Frederique Constant has been for many years involved in various form of motor sports, especially with vintage car rallies, as the brand is a longstanding and faithful partner of the famous Austin Healey car brand.
In 2016, Frederique Constant further strengthens its ties to motor sports by identifying itself with the legendary Peking to Paris Motor Challenge and becoming once again its official timekeeper.
The Peking to Paris Rally Motor Challenge is a recreation of the 1907 challenge. The Prince Borghese stated in the Parisian newspaper Le Matin: "What needs to be proved today is that as long as a man has a car he can do anything and go anywhere. Is there anyone who will undertake to travel this summer from Peking to Paris by automobile?".
The race began from the French embassy in Peking on the 10th of June 1907. There were originally forty participants, but only five actually started from Peking. The modern incarnation of the Peking to Paris was launched by Philip Young and his Endurance Rally association in 1997. The ambitious route was 16,000km long and took 45 days to complete. The rally drove through China, Tibet, India and towards Pakistan. Ten years passed before the ERA ran another Peking to Paris race in 2007, which was more true to the original one. As it was such a success the Endurance Rally Association decided to run Peking to Paris as a three-year event.
Six years, after participating in the 2010 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, Frederique Constant decided to take part once again in the adventure by being the exclusive sponsor and official Timekeeper of this prestigious car event.
The 2016 version is faithful to the original route. The 109 competitors and their classic cars will follow a route of over 13'000 KM (8'500 MILES) during 35 days. The 2016 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge will start from the Great Wall outside Beijing in China on Sunday, June the 12th, and will finish with a race into Paris to cross the finish line on Place Vendome on Sunday, July the 17th. Frederique Constant will welcome all drivers on the famous Parisian Place Vendôme together with the prestigious Bucherer Paris Boutique.
During their journey, the drivers will cross the Gobi Desert and Mongolia before striking through Russia. Then, they will turn to Belarus and enter Europe through Poland.
For the 2016 edition of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, Frederique Constant has created a limited-edition watch as a tribute to this exceptional motor challenge. Both driver and navigator of the winning team will be awarded this exclusive watch, and it will be unveiled then.
Thanks.