
If you’re not aware, Japan has a prolific racing community in its own right. And while its history stems as far back as anyone else’s, it was Tetsu Ikuzawa’s success throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s that paved the way for many others from then on. Not only was he a force behind the wheel throughout the Formula 2 circuit and a factory driver for Porsche but he became the first Japanese driver to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973. Today, TAG Heuer honors Ikuzawa’s legacy with a special-edition of its Carrera chronograph.

TAG Heuer is the perfect watchmaker for the job, considering its string of collaborations with Porsche and sheer dominance in the category of racing chronographs. Simply put, no other brand is as revered in the world of auto enthusiasts. Designed in tandem with Bamford — a brand with a reputation for assertive theming — this Team Ikuzawa Edition sports a decidedly retro aesthetic, sporting a striking white opaline dial with red accents, which nods to Team Ikuzawa’s official colors, which themselves pay tribute to Japan’s national colors. One of the subdials is colored in white, blending in with the background, while the other is filled in red like the flag itself.

The watch in question is based on the standard 42mm Carrera model, which is powered by the HEUER 02 autotmatic movement and sports a stainless steel case with 100m of water resistance. There’s also the typical steel bracelet option, with the addition of a white fabric Velcro strap with the Team Ikuzawa logo. The main difference on the dial configuration is the substitution of the third chronograph subdial down below with the racing team’s logo above the date window.

Priced at $6,300, this TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford is a limited edition of just 100, with numbers 1 and 100 reserved for Tetsu Ikuzawa and his daughter Mai. Each watch comes with a miniature version of Tetsu’s Porsche 906 which he drove in the 1967 Japanese Grand Prix.