Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph: The high-powered alliance between two legends

Blancpain and Lamborghini have joined forces in creating an exceptional automobile championship. Played out over six events per year, the Super Trofeo stars a fi eld of the newest Lamborghini Gallardos. To celebrate these superlative races, the Manufacture in Le Brassus is presenting a Super Trofeo fl yback chronograph, a resolutely sporting watch with a production run limited to 300.

Encounters between two myths are bound to engender exceptional events. The alliance between the world’s oldest watch brand and one of the most iconic car manufacturers has resulted in the creation of an exceptional automobile championship. The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is not only the fi rst Lamborghini racing series, but also to become – right from the start of the fi rst race in May – the world’s fastest and most demanding single-make championship.

Gleaming Lamborghini Gallard LP560-4 cars – the latest version of this legendary model – are to face off on six equally fabled race tracks during the year 2009. Each of these speed machines bears the colours of the watch manufacturer, while the car driven by Blancpain’s President and CEO, Marc A. Hayek, is entirely dedicated to the brand.

For Marc A. Hayek and Stephan Winkelmann, respectively at the head of Blancpain and

Lamborghini, this partnership in a joint championship enables them to fulfi l the dreams of many devotees of exceptional mechanical engineering. When Lamborghini decided to join the race to push the boundaries of speed, its decision to work with Blancpain – a watch brand renowned for its pioneering sprit and mechanical expertise – was a natural choice for this high-octane union.

The fi rst single-make racing series in Lamborghini’s history, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo 2009 features six European events scheduled from May through October, at Adria (Italy), Norisring (Germany), Spa Francorchamps (Belgium), Silverstone (United Kingdom), as well Catalunya (Spain) and Paul Ricard (France).

Cutting-edge technology

Boasting exceptional performances fuelled by 570 HP and 540 N/m torque enabling it to reach top speeds of over 300 km/h, the latest racing version of the Gallardo line from Lamborghini is a truly exceptional car. Its mettlesome character and its taut, sophisticated lines have inspired the Blancpain designers and master-watchmakers in creating the latest gem from the Manufacture in Le Brassus: the Super Trofeo Chronograph endowed with a fl yback function. Like the powerful engine of the Gallardo, this new Blancpain chronograph displays state-of-the-art design and all

the attributes of cutting-edge technology.

The case specifi cally designed for this prestigious line is inspired by the sleek profi le of the Lamborghini Gallardo. Crafted in steel coated with a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) treatment – blacker than ruthenium and more resistant than PVD – the 43.5 mm-diameter case that is waterresistant to 100 metres features alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces. Highly sought after for its hardness and its anti-allergenic nature, as well as its intense colour, DLC treatment combines the properties of diamantine carbon (hardness, insulation, chemical resistance) with those of graphite (black colour, elasticity). Based on state-of-the-art technologies, DLC is a treatment applied in thin layers (sometimes less than 2 μm) by a “ vacuum deposit ” process.

Moreover, DLC boasts an extremely low friction coeffi cient and remarkable chemical inertia, two qualities that ensure excellent resistance to wear, corrosion and friction, as well as a flexible kind of hardness.

Black is black

At this heart of this new sophisticated and performance-oriented case, the Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph, lies its throbbing “ engine ”, Calibre F185. To reinforce its dynamic nature, the movement of the Blancpain Super Trofeo has been coated by NAC – a state-of-theart electroplating treatment that blackens the movement bridges and main plate. The mechanical self-winding Calibre F185 is endowed with a 40-hour power reserve and comprises 308 parts.

This movement powers a range of functions including hour, minute, small seconds and date display at 6 o’clock, as well as the chronograph indications with a central sweep seconds hand, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock. For instant-measurement enthusiasts, the Calibre F185 also drives a “ fl yback ” function. The unmistakable black dial is distinguished by two red and white 9 and 12 o’clock numerals stylised to evoke the numbers painted on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 racing cars. Another exclusive feature of this exceptional model is its gold oscillating weight engraved with the inscription “ Super Trofeo 2009 ”.

A sports model through and through, the Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph is teamed with a strap in alcantara – like the seats in the Lamborghini Gallardo – secured by a steel folding clasp. Available in a limited edition of 300 with its individual number engraved on the case-back – the Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph comes in a presentation box inspired by the taut, opulent lines of the ultra-dynamic Gallardo.

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[Source: Blancpain’s Press Release]

Filed under: Blancpain Race, Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph, Blancpain Watch, Blancpain Watches, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, Luxury, Luxury Sports Watches, Luxury Watch, luxury watches, NEW, Timepiece, Watch, Watches, wristwatches

Blancpain Lamborghini: Last leg of the Super Trofeo championship season

(Last leg of the Super Trofeo championship season)

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The first season of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo was brought to a magnificent conclusion in the sunshine of Provence. Marc A. Hayek and Peter Kox once again achieved impressive performances on the Paul Ricard track in Le Castellet. After six Grand Prix events comprising 18 races held between May and October, the Hayek and Kox pair competing with the Reiter Engineering team earned the 2nd spot in the team ranking. Blancpain’s President and CEO also took 2nd place on the Pro-Am podium, while his co-driver from the Netherlands came 2nd in the Pro category. These spectacular final results set the crowning touch to the association of skills initiated a year ago between the Manufacture from Le Brassus and the Italian automobile manufacturer.

This alliance has also given rise to the Super Trofeo Blancpain Chronograph*, a limited series composed of high-tech materials and featuring a sporting look inspired by the automobile world. Snapped up immediately by eager enthusiasts, all 300 of these Super Trofeo chronographs have become instant collector’s items that give a foretaste of the forthcoming horological creations from the Manufacture, in cooperation with the engineers of the Italian firm. On the track side, the two next Lamborghini Blancpain

Super Trofeo seasons are already scheduled on the 2010 and 2011 racing calendars, and will once again feature the participation of Marc A.

Hayek as a driver and standard-bearer for Blancpain – title sponsor of the world’s fastest monobrand championship.

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2009 season rankings

TEAMS TOTAL

Petri Corse 196

Reiter Engineering 156

Bonaldi Motorsport 149

[Source: Blancpain’s Press Release]

Filed under: Blancpain, Blancpain Race, Blancpain Watch, Blancpain Watches, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, Luxury, Luxury Watch, luxury watches, Timepiece, Watch, Watches, wristwatches

BLANCPAIN, THE PRIVILEGED PARTNER OF PRESTIGE YACHTING

For the fifth consecutive year, Blancpain is dropping anchor in the Old Port of Cannes. A partner of the 32nd edition of the International Boat Show, Blancpain is marking the occasion by announcing the worldwide launch of its brand-new 500 Fathoms diver’s watch. And as the icing on the cake, the Manufacture from Le Brassus is presenting a world first on the Blancpain booth: a 500 Fathoms Cannes 2009 limited series of 50 dedicated to sea-lovers.

The Blancpain story is written in “navy” blue since 1953, the debut year of the first modern diver’s watch, the Fifty Fathoms. Blancpain regularly celebrates its historical ties with the maritime world. In 2007, Blancpain naturally chose the Cannes International Boat Show to launch its “new wave” Fifty Fathoms watch. This year, to mark its fifth participation in the prestigious yachting event, Blancpain is announcing the launch of its brand-new 500 Fathoms and presenting a special edition of this model, issued in a limited series of 50.

The resolutely sporting 500 Fathoms is making a noteworthy entrance into the collection of Blancpain diver’s watches. Endowed with a new face, new dimensions and new performances, the 500 Fathoms may in some ways be considered the “big sister” (size-wise) of the famous Fifty Fathoms*. Measuring an impressive 48 mm in diameter, the new 500 Fathoms is water-resistant to 1000 metres. An automatic decompression valve, placed inside the brushed titanium case, guarantees the security and reliability of the watch without requiring any handling on the part of the wearer.

To enhance legibility, Blancpain has designed large phosphorescent Arabic numerals engraved into sunbrushed metal appliques. The luminescent coating applied to the hour-markers, bezel markings and hands, as well as the red tip of the central seconds hand, ensures ideally convenient read-off in all circumstances. The black luminescent base of the dial reveals its fluorescence only in the dark. The oneway rotating bezel made from titanium and scratch-proof sapphire crystal is notched to facilitate handling and slightly cambered to reduce the risk of impacts.

The sapphire crystal back enables one to admire the entirely hand-decorated self-winding Calibre 1315 with its propeller-shaped oscillating weight. The 500 Fathoms Cannes 2009 model comes fitted with a black rubber-lined sail canvas strap, while an additional rubber strap and a dedicated tool to secure it lend the finishing touch to this set delivered in an ultra-sturdy watertight presentation box designed to withstand extreme conditions.

*Born in 1953 from Blancpain’s encounter with two French naval officers – Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud, who were entrusted by the French Ministry of Defence with creating an elite “Combat Divers” unit – the Fifty Fathoms proved its worth by displaying an ability to withstand the extreme conditions characteristic of underwater military operations. Named after the water resistance of the original model, guaranteed to a depth of 50 fathoms (91.45 metres), this mechanical masterpiece soon earned a reputation for reliability and sturdiness, thereby asserting itself as the archetypal modern diver’s watch.

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[Source: Blancpain’s press release]

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Filed under: Blancpain, Blancpain Watch, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, Luxury, Luxury Sports Watches, luxury watches, Watch, Watches, wristwatches

Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Adria, July 23rd 2009, Spa Francorchamps (Belgium)

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The first Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo race roars off the starting grid: a podium for the President of Blancpain!
The first race in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo got off to a flying start in Italy on Saturday May 16th, organised within the FIA GT championship on the famous Adria racing track. As title sponsor of a championship that is truly unique in the world, Blancpain is proud to be participating in this international sports event. Its President and CEO Marc A. Hayek took the wheel of a gleaming Gallardo LP560-4 decked out in the livery of the Manufacture Blancpain. Competing alongside famous driver Peter Kox from the Netherlands, Marc A. Hayek placed third after the second round.

Sporty by nature right through to the last component, the Super Trofeo Chronograph is issued in a limited edition of 300*.
The next five European legs of the season are scheduled to take place between June and
October of this year, as follows:
• Norisring (Germany), June 26-28
• Spa Francorchamps (Belgium), July 23-25
• Silverstone (UK), August 15-16
• Catalunya (Spain), September 18-20
• Paul Ricard (France), October 2-4

Ethos
The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo was launched on Saturday 25 October 2008 at the Hockenheimring circuit, Germany.
The series will make its debut in 2009 and feature:
• A Gallardo LP 560-4 bespoke race car, promoting the four-wheel drive concept
• Racing on some of Europe’s legendary circuits
• Expected grids of 20+ race cars
• Professional and ‘Gentlemen’ drivers (International competition licence A, B or C)
• Lamborghini support across all elements of race organisation: administration, hospitality, merchandise, technical, spare parts, etc.
• Exclusive and stylish trackside presence, the Super Trofeo Village

Race format
In 2009, the Super Trofeo will consist of six race weekends, with an allowance of two drivers per race car. Each race meeting consists of:
1×30 minute free practice session
1×30 minute qualifying session
3×40 minute races
Super trofeo village
At the heart of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo weekend is the Super Trofeo Village. The style, quality and layout of which naturally complements the Lamborghini brand. Within the Super Trofeo Village, a boutique features both Automobili Lamborghini and Super Trofeo merchandise, whilst the series title sponsor, Blancpain, showcases its watch collection, with demonstrations from its master watchmaker.

Technical specification
• Engine V10 5.2 litre IDS with 570 hp
• 4-wheel drive (4WD)
• Six-speed robotized gearbox
• Racing ABS
• Steel racing brakes
• Racing tyres by Pirelli
• 18” lightweight competition wheels
• Aerodynamic performance kit
• No launch control system

[Source: Blancpain Press Lounge]

Filed under: Blancpain, Blancpain Race, Blancpain Watch, Blancpain Watches, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo

Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo – 1st leg at Adria: A flying start and a podium for the President of Blancpain!

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The first race in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo got off to a flying start in Italy on Saturday May 16th, organised within the FIA GT championship on the famous Adria racing track. As title sponsor of a championship that is truly unique in the world, Blancpain is proud to be participating in this international sports event. Its President and CEO Marc A. Hayek took the wheel of a gleaming Gallardo LP560-4 decked out in the livery of the Manufacture Blancpain.

Competing alongside famous driver Peter Kox from the Netherlands, Marc A. Hayek placed third after the second round. This first leg of an exceptional automobile championship symbolises a fascinating alliance between two legends: Blancpain, the world’s oldest watch brand, and Lamborghini, one of the most iconic car manufacturers.

Featuring six events in the 2009 racing calendar, the Super Trofeo provides an opportunity to see the brand-new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 cars (delivering 570 horsepower and 540 N/m – 398 lb/ft torque enabling them to reach top speeds of over 300 km/h) in exciting action on racing tracks around Europe. Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, is driving the speed machine bearing the brand colours. This powerful pairing embodies the dream of many devotees of exceptional mechanisms, and celebrates the pioneering spirit and the mechanical expertise of the Manufacture Blancpain.

Setting the crowning touch to this partnership, Blancpain has created a new horological gem: the Super Trofeo Chronograph. Like the ultra-powerful Gallardo, this timepiece equipped with a flyback function displays sophisticated character and cutting-edge technological features. Sporty by nature right through to the last component, the Super Trofeo Chronograph is issued in a limited edition of 300*. The next five European legs of the season are scheduled to take place between June and October of this year, as follows:

• Norisring (Germany), June 26-28

• Spa Francorchamps (Belgium), July 23-25

• Silverstone (UK), August 15-16

• Catalunya (Spain), September 18-20

• Paul Ricard (France), October 2-4

* For further details of this exceptional model are provided at Blancpain’s web site.

Source: Blancpain web site.

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Filed under: Blancpain, Blancpain Race, Blancpain Watch, Blancpain Watches, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, luxury watches, Mens, Watch, Watches, Womens