For nearly a century, the small town of Le Mans in northwestern France has been the heart and soul of endurance racing. The '24 Hours of Le Mans' attracts the best drivers and automakers from around the world to compete in four classes, testing the performance, reliability, and endurance of both man and machine. Over the years, this event has also attracted watch brands, and in 2021, the independent brand Reservoir, along with the IDEC Sport team, participates in the LMP2 prototype class.
The limited edition model not only features a sporty, prototype-inspired look, but the entire series will be showcased aboard the IDEC Sport LMP2 car with number 48 throughout the '24 Hours of Le Mans' on August 21 and 22, 2021, alongside drivers Paul Lafargue, Paul-Loup Chatin, and Patrick Pilet. The limited series Reservoir GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021 combines signature retrograde complications, an aggressive design, and an impressive set of additional features, providing a tangible connection to the world's most famous endurance race.
The matte forged carbon case of the Reservoir GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021, measuring 43 mm, is likely to be comfortable for larger wearers due to its simple and sporty design. The overall shape presents a clean approach to classic sports watches with broad tapering lugs and a wide sloping fixed bezel. The vertical and elemental sides of the case lack any decorative bevels or finishing variations.
Compared to many other modern carbon case models, the forged carbon used here is surprisingly subtle in appearance, with muted highlights over a charcoal gray base tone. On the other hand, the sapphire display caseback is far more dynamic than the front, with a dynamic striped oval pattern breaking through the surrounding caseback material. However, for such a sporty modern design, water resistance is a potential weak point: Reservoir rates the watch at only 50 meters.
Like the case, the dial of the Reservoir GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021 primarily uses matte textures and subtle color variations, but here the use of bold accents and smooth graphic design gives the package a charismatic racing charm. The black surface of the main dial features a heavily grained matte texture, which in initial images resembles asphalt, cleverly fitting into the automotive theme while maintaining a serious modernist design character. The signature retrograde central minute hand of Reservoir here takes on the appearance of a modern sports car tachometer, with a needle-shaped deep red hand and a relief minute track running from '8 o'clock' to '4 o'clock'. Applied Arabic numerals for the minutes enhance this theme with their rounded and aggressive modern font and pale gray luminescent coating.
The bright white and red IDEC Sport logo forms a natural visual accent at the '8 o'clock' position, though its placement here may spark debate among enthusiasts as it disrupts the overall symmetry of the dial. The passing hour window at the '6 o'clock' position is executed in a clean, square style, with the hour wheel matching the dial and fine Arabic numerals in a light font. Below the hour window, from the '5 o'clock' to '7 o'clock' mark, lies the power reserve indicator of the GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021, which maintains the automotive theme through a retrograde fuel gauge motif.
Reservoir equips the GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021 with a heavily modified ETA 2824-2 automatic movement featuring a proprietary module for Reservoir's unique complications. Visible through the display caseback, the decoration includes a cut-out rotor with a Côtes de Genève pattern on the matte bridges. The unique combination of Reservoir's complications likely requires significant torque, as the power reserve is lower than the standard 2824-2 model. Reservoir estimates the power reserve at 37 hours at a frequency of 28,800 beats per hour.
The Reservoir GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021 comes with a pair of straps. The first is a classic rally strap in black leather with large perforations and racing red stitching. For a more contemporary sporty look, a black NATO strap is also included. The GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition box also contains an exclusive scale model of the IDEC Sport LMP2 contender for the 2021 Le Mans race, along with a plaque confirming that the watch was in the driver's cabin during the 2021 race. Finally, each Reservoir GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021 includes a one-day VIP pass to the '24 Hours of Le Mans' 2022, although transport and accommodation are not included.
With the release of the limited edition GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021, Reservoir offers enthusiasts both a beautiful sporty racing version of its signature formula and the opportunity to directly engage with one of the greatest sporting events in the world.
Only 24 pieces of the Reservoir GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021 will be released. The Reservoir GT Tour Carbon IDEC Sport Edition 2021 is available for pre-order through official dealers at a price of $8,600, with expected delivery in October 2021. For more detailed information, visit the brand's website.