Swiss watch and jewellery house Chopard has kicked off its third year as the official timing partner for Porsche Motorsport, the leading team for the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

At the Six Hours of Silverstone, the season’s opening round, the two new Porsche 919 Hybrid cars led by Chopard ambassadors Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley and Romain Dumas campaigned again for victory on the renowned circuit of the British Midlands after a very successful year 2015 which ended up with a double title in the pilots’ and constructors’ championship.

After a thrilling six-hour race on April 17, Neel Jani finished second in the Porsche 919 Hybrid No. 2 that he shares with Marc Lieb and Dumas. Audi’s car, which arrived first, got disqualified and gave the victory to Porsche.

By doing the fastest lap of the race, Jani proved the competitiveness of the innovative hybrid race car. Porsche also suffered from a significant accident when the number 1 car of reigning World Champions Timo Bernhard and Chopard ambassadors Hartley and Webber crashed after two hours. The pilot walked away unhurt even if he had a spectacular accident.

In 2014, Chopard became “Official Timing Partner” of Porsche Motorsport for the German racing team’s grand comeback to endurance competition and to celebrate this partnership, Chopard launched a new Superfast chronograph inspired by the Porsche 919 Hybrid competing in the World Endurance Championship LMP1 category: the Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Edition.

The Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Edition is entirely in tune with WEC racing. This imposingly sized chronograph with its 45 mm-diameter case and flyback function beats to the pace of a mechanical Chopard 03.05-M calibre, chronometer-certified by the COSC. This engine and its oscillating weight may be admired through a sapphire crystal engraved with the inscription “Official Timing Partner Porsche Motorsport”. Inspired by the new Porsche 919 Hybrid, the stripes on the dial evoke the racing car’s rear diffuser. Likewise, the “919” appearing in a red rectangle inside a 9 o’clock subdial is identical to the number of the Porsche racing cars. Finally, the rubber strap is inspired by slick tyres serving to negotiate bends at extremely high speeds.

This sophisticated and powerful Superfast chronograph proclaims a highly exclusive nature that is a perfect match for the legendary Porsche cars, since the Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Edition from Chopard is produced in a strictly limited 919-piece series.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of Chopard, said: “2015 has been amazing for the partnership between Chopard and Porsche Motorsport with incredible results. I had the chance to attend some of the WEC races and we are very proud to be part of the success of Porsche Motorsport in WEC as Official Timing Partner of the team. Chopard ambassadors Mark Webber and Brendon Hartley won the World Champion title and Romain Dumas had a successful season.

“Our company shares several values with Porsche such as the quest for performance and excellence. Both in car- and watch-making we all pay attention to the smallest details. We are ready to accompany Porsche Motorsport as official timing partner for a third season in WEC. We believe in the team for reiterating their outstanding series of victories in 2016.”

The WEC will continue on May 7 for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.