— timepieces
The 20th-anniversary edition of the Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille was a roaring success, led by the talented young professional racing driver Aurora Straus
Racing driver Aurora Straus leads the 20th-anniversary edition of the Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille
THE EXCITEMENT IS palpable in the air at the
20th edition of the Rallye des Princesses in France. It’s been two decades since the visionary Viviane Zaniroli thought it pertinent to create an annual rally for women in a sport dominated by men – but it’s become a thoroughly successful event that has grown every year in size, attracting key sponsors such as watchmaker Richard Mille, which became the event’s official partner in 2015.
The Rallye des Princesses couldn’t have been a better partner than Richard Mille. The man is an avid racing enthusiast and one of the greatest modern watchmakers today, combining the best in technical innovation in timepieces that are worn by the world’s elite. More importantly, Richard Mille recognises that women have an equal place in this world and designs ladies’ watches that aren’t compromised or lesser than their male counterparts.
The brand’s philosophy is also clear in who it chooses to be part of the family. Aurora Straus, a Harvard student, a Richard Mille ambassador and the youngest woman to be a professional racing driver in the United States, got behind the wheel of the first car at this year’s rally – a red Porsche 356, one of eight Porsches provided by Richard Mille. The 20-year-old is a regular on the motorsport tracks, where she has competed against men in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge for the past three years.
A rally isn’t a test of speed, but of endurance. The 20th Rallye des Princesses began in the early hours of June 1 at the Place Vendôme in Paris, as 91 crews stood by, ready to embark on a five-day, 1,700-kilometre adventure that would take them through winding roads across the French countryside. The sun had barely peeked over the horizon before the teams were off on a journey from Paris to Saint-Tropez.
The routes are certainly scenic. The drive takes the teams through the Loire Valley to Vichy, Aix-les-Bains and along the storied Route Napoléon in Provence. The fifth
and final day of the rally brought the drivers to Château Saint-Martin – indeed, the birthplace of the Rallye Paris-Saint-Raphäel, the forbear of the Rallye des Princesses – before everyone circled back to the
Côte d’Azur in Saint-Tropez for the final celebrations.
In the end, the top two crews were so close that a stopwatch had to be used to break the tie. The winning team was Carole Gratzmuller and her co-driver, Elisa Noémie – marking their fifth and third victory, respectively. Regardless of who crossed the finish line first, the overall feedback was unanimous: the event was a triumph.
“Part of what Richard Mille and I espouse as a brand is deliberately changing the narrative of women in these fields, and promoting women who love adventure and competition,” says Straus. “I had the privilege of spending a week with other strong women, making connections that will last a lifetime. When women work together, incredible things happen!”