Few eras in motorsport capture the imagination quite like the Group C endurance racing classification of the 1980s and early ’90s. It was a time defined by unhinged turbocharging, cutting-edge ground effects, and legendary battlegrounds like the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans.
Inside the cramped cockpits of icons like the Porsche 962C and Sauber C9, drivers monitored raw mechanical performance through high-contrast, stark dashboard instruments.
Autodromo, a brand fundamentally built on the romance of automotive history, captured this aesthetic beautifully with their digital Group C collection back in 2023. Moving forward, the brand is shifting gears into an exciting new chapter.
The Autodromo Group C Turbo Sport Watch arrives as a brilliant, motorsport-infused “ana-digi” timepiece that captures the exact moment racing dashboards transitioned from purely analog needles to digital readouts. Priced at a highly accessible £385, it is a masterclass in nostalgic gearhead design.
The Best of Both Worlds: The Ana-Digi Dial
The true magic of the Group C Turbo Sport lies in its hybrid layout, blending the immediate, tactile legibility of an analog face with the utilitarian powerhouse of an LCD screen.
The upper two-thirds of the dial are dominated by an analog display inspired directly by the tachometers of the Turbo Era. High-contrast indexes and vivid syringe hands jump out against a subtle, debossed grid pattern that screams late-80s aesthetics.
Balanced neatly at the 6 o’clock position is a versatile digital LCD window, mirroring the early electronic trip computers and digital odometers that began finding their way onto racing gauge clusters.
This isn’t just a visual gimmick; the digital window vastly augments the time-telling capabilities of the watch. Powered by a dual-module quartz configuration, the Group C Turbo Sport functions as a triple time zone watch—giving you one analog readout alongside two independent digital zones.
The lower LCD display also packs a crisp 1/100-second sports chronograph for timing laps (or morning coffee), a daily alarm, and toggleable 12-hour or 24-hour formats. When night falls on the circuit, a bright electroluminescent (EL) backlight illuminates the digital display with a satisfying blue glow.
Case Architecture: Lightweight Aluminum Construction
Autodromo has always been celebrated for its casework, and the Turbo Sport does not disappoint. Rather than defaulting to standard stainless steel, the brand opted for an anodized aluminum case that has been meticulously CNC-milled and treated with a satin bead-blast finish.
It’s a deliberate nod to the lightweight, exotic alloys used heavily throughout the paddocks of 1980s endurance racing.
* Case Diameter: 38.5mm
* Lug-to-Lug Distance: 40mm
* Case Thickness: 11.4mm
* Strap Dimensions: 20mm tapering to 18mm
* Crystal: Scratch-Resistant Sapphire
* Water Resistance: 50 Meters (5 ATM)
The proportions are wonderfully compact and wearable. With a 38.5mm case diameter and a super-short 40mm lug-to-lug profile, the watch wears incredibly light and flat on the wrist, completely avoiding the bulky, boxy pitfalls of many multi-function sports watches.
Flip the watch over, and you are greeted by a 316L stainless steel caseback featuring exquisite circular brushing, polished bevels, and a paint-filled, custom scripted Group C logo that perfectly balances the entire composition.
Premium Straps and Track-Ready Wearability
Completing the package is a custom-molded FKM rubber strap that Autodromo proudly notes is their most comfortable to date.
Engineered for the rigors of daily wear, the strap comes inlaid with a rugged nylon material, giving it a premium, tactical texture that contrasts beautifully against the smooth, bead-blasted aluminum chassis.
“By pairing an analog automotive tachometer aesthetic with a functional digital window, Autodromo has successfully captured the nostalgic marriage of analog and computer-based systems that defined the golden age of motorsport.”
For £385, the Autodromo Group C Turbo Sport Watch punches far above its weight class. It delivers an uncompromised, design-forward experience that satisfies the inner watch nerd and automotive historian alike.
It is a wonderfully executed, highly characterful addition to any enthusiast’s watch box.
