The biggest date kicking off the year for worldwide collectors of exceptional vehicles took place at Porte de Versailles, in Paris, last week: Rétromobile. Richard Mille, a partner of this exhibition, was present with a stand of 380 square metres and 8 superb vehicles manufactured by the British manufacturer McLaren which represented 50 years of development and motor racing of the highest order.

“Rétromobile in Paris was the opportunity for Richard and the Richard Mille brand to share their passion for automotive beauty and excellence with the wider world”, shares Zak Brown, Executive Director at McLaren Technology Group. “It’s fantastic that he chooses to do that, simply to express his love for engineering excellence and beautiful aesthetic design. This year, when Richard and his team decided to use their stand at the show to celebrate their partnership with McLaren, we jumped at the occasion to collaborate. We helped to pull together a collection of McLaren race and road cars that have never been seen together before – which was a fun and unique opportunity.”

McLaren has rarely before lent so many cars for an external exhibition. Enthusiasts were able to get up close to these remarkable cars in this temporary showroom. The majority had been brought over specifically from Woking and others kindly loaned by their passionate owners such as the M2B 1966, Bruce McLaren’s first racing car and the M7A, runner-up in the F1 world championship in 1968.

“To see such an incredible collection of McLaren race cars, alongside the iconic McLaren P1™ fresh from its recent fifth anniversary celebrations as well as the 570S GT4 was a real privilege”, explains Mike Flewitt, CEO of McLaren Automotive. “We have a shared passion for luxury, a desire to be at the cutting edge of technology, while striving for excellence in everything we do.”

The brand was particularly honored to have on the stand the CAN AM M8D 1970 with its Chevy V8 7.6 litre engine and the M23 driven by double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi. Alongide was the 1995 24-hours of Le Mans McLaren F1 GTR winner and finally the MP4/4, world championship winning car with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna and record holder that won 15 out of 16 Grand Prix in 1988.

“Rétromobile is the first phase of the rocket” says Richard Mille. “The second phase will appear at the Geneva Motor show. This time, McLaren will host us and we will present a watch inspired by their automotive designs. It is our declaration of love to this manufacturer”. A further testimony of the undeniable complicity that unites the two brands.

Rendez-vous March, 7^th in Geneva to discover this new McLaren watch in the presence of Richard Mille and Mike Flewitt.