Richard Mille on Watches, Cars and the Rallye

Richard Mille, 67, who founded his eponymous Swiss watch brand in 1999, is a well-known figure in the automotive world in part because of his sponsorship of motoring events and his vintage racecar collection. This month, he will sponsor for the fourth time the annual Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille, a women-only classic-car rally that brings together some 90 international participants for a six-day race that rewards average travel times rather than sheer speed Starting on Saturday in Paris, the participants will cover about 1,000 miles of meandering country roads in France and northern Spain, before crossing the finish line in Biarritz on the Atlantic coast of France. Ahead of the race, Mr Mille discussed his passion for mechanical marvels that tick and roar.

The following interview has been edited and condensed. What led you to sponsor the Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille? I am a fan of classic cars, and I immediately liked . More