It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the launch of the McLaren F1 road car. But it’s even longer – 26 years – since McLaren’s F1 team joined forces with TAG Heuer, in one of the longest-ever sponsorship agreements to run between an F1 team and a brand. Celebrating the latter, a limited-edition watch has been displayed at the TAG Heuer Mastering Speed Exhibition at Halle Secheron in Geneva.

In its colour, materials and design, the TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph is reminiscent of McLaren’s new 12C supercar. The carbon dial, for example, is inspired by the 12C’s carbonfibre MonoCell; and the watch’s movement is visible through sapphire inserts on the dial, revealing the ‘engine’ behind the watch face.

Other details that reflect the 12C include the titanium case and the Alcantara leather strap. The orange superluminescent markers on the hands, and the orange stitching of the bracelet, are a mark of McLaren’s road and racing car colour – and the final detail comes with the McLaren speed mark logo on the watch’s crown. Meanwhile, of particular use to pilots and track drivers, the Flyback function allows the chronograph to be reset to zero, and immediately restarted by pressing only once on the push button.

The TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph will be produced as a limited edition of 1000 pieces and will be exclusively available for purchase through McLaren later in 2011.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: TAG Heuer