It's 'drive time' as Zenith teams with HERO, the historic endurance rallying organisation

El Primero Chronomaster 1969 HERO Cup edition marks the partnership with hero cup

Classic  car  rallying  is all about  skill,  reliability,  stamina and   -  most    importantly   -  perfect timing.   Which   is why  the   celebrated  Swiss  Watch   Manufacture  Zenith has    teamed  with   the   UK-based  Historic   Endurance Rallying Organisation (better known  as  HERO) as  official timekeeper of the  HERO Cup. Zenith, which was founded in 1865, is proud  to have  established a partnership with HERO, which  was  set-up in 1993 and  has  since  become one   of   the   most    successful  and   respected  historic endurance  rallying   organizations  in  the   world. Today Zenith has  a long-standing involvement  with the world of classic cars that  is the DNA of the Manufacture.

HERO pioneered the  concept of long-distance rallies created  specifically   for  cars  from   a  bygone   era,   and its  events   are  now  regarded as  being  among   the  most difficult and rewarding challenges in the historic  motoring calendar. Indeed, its celebrated ‘Le Jog’ (a grueling  winter drive  from  Land’s End  in Cornwall  to  John  O’Groats  in Scotland for  pre-1986 cars)  has  been  described as  the toughest classic car  event  in  Europe,   if not  the  world. HERO’s Winter Challenge to Monte-Carlo, meanwhile, tackles some  of Europe’s trickiest snow-covered roads, whilst  the  HERO Challenge takes the  form  of a one-day series of special tests and timed  trials.

There  are  also  more   gentle   events,  such   as  the  ever- popular   Scottish   Malts   in   which   competitors   must complete a series of driving tests and maintain a strict time

schedule on a route  linked  by famous whisky distilleries, whilst  the  Royal Automobile  Club 1,000 Mile Trial caters exclusively  for pre-war cars. The Summer Trial is aimed at those new to the sport  of regularity rallying and at the other  end of the scale, the famous RAC Rally of the Tests returns to the motoring calendar in 2016.

Zenith  will be  the  Official Timekeeper of the  HERO Cup and  the  future  winner  of the  HERO Cup will also  receive a Zenith  El Primero Chronomaster Open  from  a limited edition  of 100 units,  being  produced especially  to  mark the partnership between HERO and the celebrated Swiss watch  brand.

Since  its  founding,  HERO has  organized more  than  150 classic car  events  all over Europe.  It is recognized by the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the UK’s governing  body, and   is  also   affiliated   to  the   Federation  Internationale des  Vehicules Anciens  (FIVA). Powered by the  legendary beating  heart of the El Primero movement, the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 HERO Cup  edition  incorporates the HERO logo into the  12-hour counter at six o’clock and  is supplied on a leather strap with special red stitching.

The back of the 42mm  diameter watch,  meanwhile, has  a sapphire crystal  centre which enables the highly finished, chronometer-certified movement to be clearly  seen.

Just 100 units  of Zenith  branded limited  edition  of the HERO Cup  will  be  available   to  celebrate  the  passion, the precision and the endurance of this new exciting partnership.