Richard Mille has just dropped the RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic, marking the brand’s tenth tribute to the legendary endurance race since their partnership began in 2008. Limited to 150 pieces, it continues to showcase how the Swiss brand is one of the best when it comes to combining automotive inspiration with horological innovation.
Racing DNA Runs Deep
Richard Mille’s connection to Le Mans Classic goes back to 2002, just a year after the watchmaker’s debut, making this partnership one of the longest in current luxury watchmaking. Beginning as a modest gathering of just 30,000 spectators when it started in ’02, the celebration of classic cars has now grown to become a huge event drawing over 235,000 enthusiasts each year, featuring nearly 1,000 vintage racers from 1923 through the new millennium.
This time around, RM chose its RM 30-01 for the task — a watch whose design philosophy clearly draws from racing heritage itself with construction methods borrowed from F1 engineering. Looks-wise, the skeletonized dial mimics the flowing lines of a racetrack, while the new green and white colorway pays homage to Le Mans Classic’s signature palette. For this version, the 24-hour counter features an Easter egg in the way of a green marker at 16, referencing the race’s traditional 4 PM start time.
Engineering Excellence in Miniature
At the heart of this timepiece sits the modified Calibre RMAR2 movement, where Richard Mille’s signature technical complexity can be viewed through the sapphire caseback window with an etched Le Mans Classic logo. The declutchable rotor system includes a clutch engagement indicator at 11 o’clock, showing whether the automatic winding is active or disengaged. While this might feel over-engineered, it also gives the wearer complete control over their watch’s behavior, much like, say, a race car driver monitoring the systems in his vehicle. Another race-inspired feature is found in the oversized date display at 4 o’clock with its checkered flag detailing.
The power reserve indicator curves around the dial like a racetrack, displaying the watch’s 55-hour capacity through color-coded zones. Meanwhile, the function selector at 3 o’clock operates via the crown rather than traditional pull-out positions to streamline operations. Other RM 30-01 elements are still here, including the skeletonized hands for legibility, a central second hand counterweight (in green), and the assertive screws around the bezel.
Stretching 42mm across, the case’s titanium front and rear plates sandwich a Green Quartz TPT center section for both visual appeal and structural integrity. Likewise, the affixed green rubber strap is vented for breathability but still looks rad on your wrist, reminiscent of old rally straps in its own way.
Spec Sheet
Model: RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic
Case Material: Titanium with Green Quartz TPT center
Case Size: 42mm
Lug-to-Lug: 50mm
Case Thickness: 14.15mm
Movement: Richard Mille Calibre RMAR2
Power Reserve: 55 hours
Strap: Vented green rubber
Limited Edition?: Yes, 150
Pricing & Availability
Available through authorized dealers, the Richard Mille RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic won’t come cheap, priced at 220,000 Swiss Francs (~$245,000) and limited to 150 pieces worldwide.
Recap
Richard Mille RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic
Partnering with the Le Mans Classic event since 2002, Richard Mille has unveiled its annual special-edition watch in the form of a green RM 30-01, which already used F1 engineering inside.
