After 7 days of extreme competition and surviving an accident on the dangerous Morelia’s road in Michoacán, Hilaire and Laura Damiron crossed the finish line at Durango in second position with their Studebaker 1954 model “El Commander”. After winning all the timed stages during the last two days of the race, they were on the heels of Emilio Velazquez and Christian Coronel, the winner’s team. Summing up a total time of 5 hours 20 minutes and 09 seconds on the speed stages, Hilaire and Laura took second place on the podium at the prize ceremony last Friday.
“This year, mental strength, trust and teamwork played an essential role on our performance,” said Hilaire. “This race will remain as a fantastic human adventure in our lives”.
The journey began with classifications in Oaxaca. Seventy international teams participated. Some of them with spectacular vintage cars such as Porsche, Jaguar, Oldsmobile, Dodge, Lincoln/Ford, and 1953 and 1954 Studebakers amongst others. Hilaire and Laura Damiron, who won the 2016 edition of the race, won the qualification stages and took the lead of the first leg. But shortly after, bad weather conditions combined with an increasing degree of difficulties, resulted in an accident.
On the 4th day on the road in the endless curves near San Jose de la Cumbre, one of the highest points on the road to Morelia between the high mountains of Michoacán state and the low grounds of Tierra Caliente, “El Commander” hit a wall at 100km per hour. The Studebaker had to be towed and Hilaire and Laura’s tech crew worked nonstop for more than 9 hours and managed to get the car back on the road the morning after.
However, despite their extraordinary ability to overcome many obstacles and winning all the fifteen speed stages during the last two days, the 2-minute penalty given to them on day 2 prevented them from taking the 1st position at the podium.
This 7-days, 3,000 kilometers vintage road race is one of the most prestigious events in auto racing history. First held in 1950 and sponsored by Mexican authorities to promote the brand-new Pan- American highway, it quickly attracted drivers from all over the world. It inspired Jack Heuer, the grandson of the Swiss watchmaker’s founder, to name the Heuer Carrera. The brand never stopped paying tribute to the race that was called off in 1955 after safety concerns and revived in 1988. Run annually ever since, today it is the last top speed open road of its kind.
This year, TAG Heuer launched the Carrera Heuer-01 Mexico Angel Limited Edition, a 43mm automatic chronograph with a black dial featuring 3 counters. Mexico’s Angel of independence image is affixed on them and on the case back. The case and tachymeter fixed bezel are in black ceramic matte. It is water resistant under 100 meters. A black rubber strap completes this sporty stylish look.
The 100 pieces of the limited edition are available exclusively in Mexico’s TAG Heuer authorized points of sales for a cost of $138,600.00 Mexican pesos.
