SpotlightWinning Attitude: Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 40

There are several instances where brands from the two worlds of motorsports and watchmaking have had interlinked histories. Most of such luxury auto-racing watches paid homage to racing models or sporting superstars. The Tissot Heritage 1973 Chronograph paid ode to the lesser-known Swiss Formula One driver Loris Kessel. Breitling saluted the Triumph Thunderbird 6T from 1951 motorcycle with the Top Time Triumph chronograph. Motorsport enthusiast Jack Heuer fashioned The TAG Heuer Monaco after the Monaco Grand Prix, powered by the noted self-winding mechanical movement, Caliber 11. Joining this combined legacy of art and sport is the new Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 40; an extension to the iconic Série Atelier line, and fitting tribute to the 1979 Porsche 935 No. 40.

The Story Behind Sport Auto 40

The event: 24 Hours of Le Mans; the epitome of endurance auto car racing, which together with Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500, forms the Triple Crown of Motorsport. The protagonists: Two swashbuckling French lads plus motorsports enthusiasts Laurent Ferrier and François Servanin, with competitive race car driver François Trisconi.  Participation of the trio in the 47th edition of the race, competing in the 1979 Porsche 935 No. 40. The result: They won third place out of 60 contenders; with the noted actor and race driver Paul Newman finishing one spot before them at second! The two first timers were so incredulous with the ‘hand of God’ moment that they decided to collaborate again. This time in the arena of watchmaking. Ferrier, hailing from a family of watchmakers, joined one of the top Swiss watchmakers, Patek Philippe, and in three decades rose to the position of technical director. Satisfied at mastering the trade, together with Servanin, he launched the eponymous brand in 2010.

A mix of curved and arched lines define the 41.5mm case of the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 40, to match the aerodynamic look of auto racing cars

Controlling how your eye travels for speedy readability is a fuchsia-hued transfer, forming a cross that connects the 12 o’clock hour marker with the six o’clock sub-dial, and the nine o’clock hour marker with the chamfered date aperture situated at three o’clock

Allure Of Colour

A mix of curved and arched lines define the 41.5mm case of the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 40, to match the aerodynamic look of auto racing cars. The case made from grade 5 titanium, displays satin-brushed surfaces with mirror-polished angled sides; features noticeable even in the attached three-link bracelet. One side of the tonneau-shape case displays the trademark ball-shaped crown to adjust the self-winding movement, while atop the case is a cushion-shaped chamfered bezel that secures the domed sapphire crystal. This construction provides upto 120m water resistance.

Matching the hues of the legendary 1979 Porsche 935 No. 40 is the gradient viridian green dial in opaline finish on the Sport Auto 40 model. Celebrating ‘40’ sticker on the auto car is the white tone-on-tone small seconds sub-dial situated at six o’clock. Controlling how your eye travels for speedy readability is a fuchsia-hued transfer, forming a cross that connects the 12 o’clock hour marker with the six o’clock sub-dial, and the nine o’clock hour marker with the chamfered date aperture situated at three o’clock. Note, both the ‘40’ sub-dial and date aperture have white backgrounds. The two iterations can be told apart only through subtle colour differences: one has orange Super-LumiNova hands and indices outlined in white gold, and the other has yellow Super-LumiNova hands outlined in black.

Intricate Attention To Movement

Each specimen of the LF270.01 calibre requires 139 manual finishing operations with hand-decorated components in gentian wood and diamantine, and hand-implemented techniques in zinc-polished, satin-brushed, and circular-grained finishes

The Sport Auto 40 is powered by the in-house LF270.01 calibre, which offers 72-hour power reserve and beats at 28,800vph. Its elaborate detailing is visible from the case back through the sapphire crystal. Each specimen requires 139 manual finishing operations with hand-decorated components in gentian wood and diamantine, and hand-implemented techniques in zinc-polished, satin-brushed, and circular-grained finishes. The watch comes attached to a three-link metal bracelet in grade 5 titanium like the case.

Ingrained into the aesthetic DNA of the Sport Auto 40, then is not only the bright colour palette of the 1979 Porsche 935 No. 40, but also a winners’ attitude.