The Chase for Carrera: TAG Heuer Celebrates 60 Years

Photo: TAG Heuer

The iconic TAG Heuer Carrera watch has just celebrated its 60th anniversary in the most maverick and daring way possible – by launching a Hollywood action-comedy. The Chase for Carrera, starring brand ambassador Ryan Gosling and Vanessa Bayer, is a no-holds-barred chase thriller that salutes the Carrera’s storied racing heritage and the TAG Heuer motto, “Don’t crack under pressure”. Produced by David Leitch’s 87 North and directed by Nash Edgerton, the film sees Gosling on the run from Bayer’s Prop Master as she attempts to take his beloved TAG Heuer Carrera off his wrist.

The film is an offbeat chase thriller that is as hilarious as it is dramatic, with both actors improvising many of the film’s best lines. “Prop Master?” Gosling asks her when they come face-to-face. “How did you get that? Did you get a bachelor’s first and work your way up to the masters?” The duo’s duel is pure box-office and encapsulates the spirit of the TAG Heuer Carrera: someone, like the Carrera itself, who refused to go with the status quo.

The TAG Heuer Carrera was born of the racetrack when it was first created in 1963 by TAG Heuer’s legendary former CEO Jack Heuer. Named after the notoriously dangerous Carrera Panamericana race, it was designed with readability and simplicity in mind, vital for drivers navigating high-speed bends. The result was an icon – elegant and uncluttered, sporty and daring – that spoke to Heuer’s love of mid-century design yet remains timeless six decades on.

What better way to celebrate its 60th year than with a world-first action extravaganza that few would even think possible? The Chase for Carrera is a fitting celebration of an iconic timepiece that deserves to be watched with the lights out and popcorn at hand. The film even comes with its own Hollywood posters and timeless taglines. “How bad does he want that watch?” reads one. Answer: badly.

The film sees Gosling and Bayer battle it out in high-octane style, as everything from iconic sports cars to heavy-duty trucks to electric production buggies are raced through various movie sets in a spectacle of blockbuster proportions. In a knowing nod to its film-within-a-film set-up, Leitch plays himself as the on-screen director. The film is not just a visual feast but also contains multitudes. It manages to be many movies in one – going from adrenaline-fueled chase film to slapstick comedy to mob drama to Western parody and back again.

Eagle-eyed fans of racing history will notice that the film contains a range of easter eggs, each one a nod to the Carrera’s illustrious past. For instance, it opens in an art-deco hotel corridor as Gosling finds himself chased by sword-wielding gangsters. But the first person we see is an old lady about to enter one of the doors. She is dressed in the distinctive white sunglasses of the legendary Jacqueline Evans de López, the British-born Mexican TV and film actress who was not only the first woman to compete in the infamous Panamericana race but did so five years in a row, between 1950-1954, in her own Porsche. She was truly a trailblazer that embodies the spirit of the TAG Heuer Carrera: someone, like the Carrera itself, who refused to go with the status quo.

There are five other hints and homages to the TAG Heuer Carrera’s rich history, including significant names, notable numbers, and a glimpse of another iconic figure. See how many you can spot.

Overall, The Chase for Carrera is a must-watch for anyone who loves watches, racing, action movies, or just good old-fashioned comedy. With its incredible action sequences, hilarious banter, and nods to the Carrera’s rich history, this short film is the perfect way to celebrate 60 years of one of the most iconic watches in the world. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the ride – you won’t be disappointed!