TAG Heuer, known for its association with motorsports, has teamed up with Senna Brand to produce a special watch honoring legendary Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna. Senna, considered one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time, tragically passed away in 1994 at the San Marino Grand Prix.
The collaboration will also coincide with the release of a Netflix series dedicated to showcasing Senna's incredible rise to fame and his career as one of the fastest and most fearless drivers in motor racing. The series, set to premiere on 29 November 2024, will feature heritage watches produced by TAG Heuer for Senna, providing a glimpse into the evolution of chronographs over the decades.
In the late 1980s, when Senna joined McLaren, he became a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer's S/EL (sports/elegance) line of watches. One of the iconic timepieces he wore was the flamboyant S/EL S25.706C.
During Senna's lifetime and in partnership with the Senna Foundation, TAG Heuer created five limited edition watches. After a hiatus of over a decade, the collaboration resumed in 2015 with the release of the special Senna edition watch.
The limited edition watch incorporates the Brazilian flag colors and symbols that represent Senna's racing career and personal brand. It features a 44mm grade 2 titanium case with a thickness of 15.1mm. The watch's design includes bold faceted lugs, hollowed case flanks, and speed lines, evoking the high-speed nature of racing.
To honor the lightweight carbon fiber used in Formula 1 cars, the watch's tachymeter scale is calibrated to 400km/h. The openworked bridges on the dial resemble the surface of a racetrack, with a silver chequered pattern representing the end of a race. The two chronograph counters display a yellow 'S' and an openworked steering wheel, while the tourbillon regulator is positioned at 6 o'clock.
The watch's flange features a green peripheral track and a blue track with applied indices. Luminescent details can be found on the hour and minute hands. The caseback of the watch showcases an iconic image of Senna with his helmet.
Powered by the calibre TH20-09, an in-house automatic column-wheel chronograph with a tourbillon, the watch operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of 65 hours. It comes with an integrated blue rubber strap and a titanium folding clasp with double safety push-buttons.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Senna will be a limited edition of 500 pieces and will be available in November 2024.
