Dynamics and Elegance at Arosa ClassicCar 2023: IWC Sends Brand Ambassador Laura Kraihamer to the Race
Schaffhausen/Arosa, 4th September 2023: The IWC Racing Team gave an impressive performance at the 19th Arosa ClassicCar race: Professional racing driver Laura Kraihamer drove the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” skilfully around the winding mountainous route for IWC and amazed the audience with her powerful presence.
2023 saw the challenging hill climb between Langwies and Arosa take place for the 19th time. Over the last few years, the internationally renowned event, which brings together motorsport and action in the spectacular setting of the Bündner mountains, has become one of the most well-known events beyond Switzerland’s borders. The racetrack, which is situated at around 1800 m above sea level, offers spectators pure entertainment. Over a distance of 7.3 km, the drivers must navigate 76 turns and overcome an altitude difference of 422 m. IWC Schaffhausen is a partner of Arosa ClassicCar.
IWC AMBASSADOR LAURA KRAIHAMER: DYNAMICS AND ELEGANCE
Last weekend, professional racing driver Laura Kraihamer steered the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” effortlessly and elegantly around the racetrack for the IWC Racing Team. With her flair for precision, technology and elegance, she perfectly exhibits IWC’s essential values. The IWC ambassador wore a Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 (Ref. IW388102) with a blue dial in Arosa. This Pilot’s Watch, in the classic design of a cockpit instrument, boasts a stainless-steel case with a compact diameter of 41 mm and is driven by the precise IWC-manufactured calibre 69385. “Concentration is an important factor on such a winding route. And it goes without saying that I don’t just want to be fast, I want to drive gracefully too,” explained a visibly satisfied Laura Kraihamer after the race. This is the third time she has driven for the IWC Racing Team in Arosa. In 2022, she was at the wheel at the ICE in St. Moritz and, in 2021, at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting (UK). Her and the historical “Gullwing” make a strong team every time.
FANS OF HISTORIC RACING CARS ARE ENTHRALLED BY THE “GULLWING”
In 2023, around 180 registered vehicles, including some real classics, completed the race route in Arosa. Historic racing and sports cars are allowed to participate in this event and acted as real crowd-pullers, attracting a large number of enthusiastic spectators to Arosa again this year. Since 2018, the IWC Racing Team has taken part in historic race events with a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” from the year 1956. When the elite of international classic cars meets in Switzerland, the elegant “Gullwing” certainly earns its place among them.
IWC Schaffhausen is the Engineer of Watchmaking. In 1868, the American watchmaker and engineer Florentine Ariosto Jones established the ‘International Watch Company’ in Schaffhausen in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. By combining the best of human craftsmanship and creativity with cutting-edge industrial technology and processes, he laid the foundation for IWC’s unique engineering approach to watchmaking.
IWC’s distinctive and pure design is brought to life through collections ranging from elegant dress watches to sports and luxury sports watches, notably the Portugieser, Portofino, Pilot’s Watches and Ingenieur. Over its more than 150-year history, IWC has earned a reputation for creating professional instrument watches and functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust and easy to use.
A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramic, IWC specializes in performance materials such as Ceratanium®. IWC’s advanced engineering division XPL develops technologies that enhance the durability of mechanical watches and extend their applications to environments with extreme conditions such as jet aviation and human spaceflight.
IWC is a leader in luxury watchmaking, crafting timepieces built to last for generations and continuously improving every aspect of how it manufactures, distributes and services its watches responsibly. Empowering the next generation of engineers, the brand also partners with organizations that work globally to support children and young people. IWC. EngineeredTM.