(Brazilian Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello)
The Audemars Piguet's popular Royal Oak Offshore collection was produced as a limited edition tribute to celebrated Brazilian Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello with only 1,650 pieces. It maintains the Royal Oak Offshore's durable design with an anti-shock ceramic bezel, engraved case, push button operation and is water resistant to 100m. It's available in titanium, platinum or 18k pink gold cases.
Rubens Gonçalves "Rubinho" Barrichello was born on May 23, 1972 in São Paulo. He is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver. Following the management buy-out of the Honda racing team, with whom Barrichello competed during the 2008 season, he was confirmed for 2009 as Jenson Button's team mate in the new Brawn GP team. Barrichello came in third in the 2009 championship, and will leave Brawn to race for WilliamsF1 in 2010.
Barrichello has scored the fourth highest points total in Formula One history. Barrichello drove for Ferrari from 2000 to 2005, as Michael Schumacher's team-mate, enjoying considerable success including finishing as championship runner-up in 2002 and 2004. Schumacher's retirement at the end of 2006 made Barrichello the most experienced driver on the grid, and at the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix he became the most experienced driver in F1 history.
As a young, aspiring driver, Barrichello looked up to the late Ayrton Senna, and when he joined Formula One, Senna in return considered him his protégé. As of the 2009 Formula One season Barrichello is the only driver left competing in Formula One to have raced against Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
References:
26286RO.OO.D002CR.01
Movement: Calibre: 2326/2840, self-winding
Case: 18-carat pink gold with titanium pushpieces and crown protector; ceramic medallion bearing the inscription
“Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition Rubens Barrichello”, “R. Barrichello – 257 – New Grand Prix Record” and adorned with the Rubens Barrichello logo;
Water resistant to 100m
Bezel, push pieces: Ceramic
Crown: Titanium with ceramic insert
Dial: White, partially open-worked, with exclusive “Méga Tapisserie Racing” motif
Strap: Crocodile leather with exclusive AP folding clasp; titanium attachments
Functions: Hours and minutes; small seconds at 6 o’clock; central chronograph with sweep seconds hand, 30- minute and 12-hour counters; tachometric ring; date
[Source: Audemars Piguet]