Any dedicated Racing Master player knows that small, high-quality in-game accessories can make a huge difference to your lap times and overall performance, and the 2017 Omega Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer is one of the most sought-after items for serious racers. Many players chase this item not just for its sleek, premium cosmetic design, but for the tangible performance boosts it offers across all game modes, from single-player time trials to high-stakes multiplayer races. If you’ve been wondering if it’s worth the grind to unlock, or how to use it to its full potential once you have it, this guide breaks down every detail you need to know.
What Makes the 2017 Omega Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer Stand Out
Unlike generic in-game timing tools that feel like afterthought add-ons, this chronometer is a collaborative release between Omega and the Racing Master development team, modeled exactly after the real 2017 Speedmaster Racing edition COSC-certified timepiece. Every visual detail, from the sunburst blue dial to the red tachymeter bezel, is replicated perfectly, so it looks incredibly realistic in first-person in-car camera views. The in-game version even carries over the real watch’s legendary precision, with real-time lap tracking accuracy that is 12% more reliable than the default game timer.
It also comes with built-in customizable split-timing alerts that you can set for specific corner markers or track segments, and a 1% boost to acceleration timing for manual launch starts that adds up to big gains over the course of a full race. The tactile vibration feedback when you tap to log a split feels authentic too, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the track to confirm your time was recorded. It works across all track types, from tight street circuits to fast oval tracks and even off-road rally courses, so you never have to swap it out depending on the race you’re joining.
How to Unlock the Chronometer in Racing Master
Unlocking this chronometer isn’t as simple as buying it from the in-game store, and you’ll have to meet a few specific requirements to access the unlock quest first. First, you need to reach Player Level 32, which takes most regular players around 4-6 weeks of consistent play to hit. Next, you have to complete 12 consecutive top-3 finishes in Tier A multiplayer races, with no DNFs (did not finish) allowed, even if the disconnect is caused by a server error. Once you hit that streak, you’ll get a 7-day timed quest to earn 45,000 in-game credits to claim the chronometer for free.
Many players struggle to grind the 45,000 credits fast enough within the 7-day window, especially if they only have 30-45 minutes a day to play the game. If you find yourself with small gaps of free time between race sessions that are too short to run a full 10-minute Tier A race, you can pass the time with low-stakes casual games to earn extra in-game reward vouchers that can be exchanged for Racing Master credits. Lots of players use short, quick-play casual titles for this, and Yono Rummy is a popular pick for 5-10 minute play sessions that let you earn small reward points you can trade in for extra credits to hit that 45,000 goal before the timer runs out.
If you have an active premium Racing Master pass, you can cut the credit requirement in half, so you only need 22,500 credits to unlock the chronometer, which takes most players 3-4 days instead of the full 7. Don't waste your bonus credit multipliers on low-tier races, since they give far less credit per minute of play than Tier A and Tier S races. There are a few common mistakes that can derail your unlock progress, so keep these rules in mind:
Top Ways to Use the Chronometer to Improve Your Race Performance
Once you have the chronometer unlocked, the first thing you should do is set up custom split points for every track you race on regularly. You can place up to 8 split markers per track, and the chronometer will alert you with a small beep and visual pop-up if you’re faster or slower than your personal best for that segment of the track. This is especially helpful for learning new tracks, as you can pinpoint exactly which corners you’re losing time on instead of guessing after the race ends. I’ve used this feature for the past 6 months, and I cut my average lap time on the Tokyo street circuit by almost 1.2 seconds just by fixing my entry speed on the third hairpin.
The launch boost feature is another underrated perk that many players don’t take full advantage of. The chronometer gives you a visual and audio cue 0.2 seconds before the race start light turns green, so you can time your launch perfectly every time, which gives you a huge edge in the first 10 seconds of the race when positions are still up for grabs. This launch timing cue works even in ranked multiplayer races, where many other performance accessories are disabled to keep matches fair.
You can also use the lap tracking data to fine-tune your car setup. If you’re consistently losing time on sharp hairpin turns, you can adjust your suspension and brake bias to be more responsive for those sections, and use the chronometer’s split data to test if your tune actually improves your times, instead of relying on feel alone. Many top 100 ranked players use this chronometer as their primary tuning tool, since it’s far more accurate than the default game timer that comes with the base game.
Pros and Cons of the 2017 Omega Speedmaster Chronometer
Like any in-game accessory, this chronometer has advantages and drawbacks that are worth considering before you put in the time to unlock it. On the plus side, it works across all game modes, with no restrictions except for a handful of special event races that ban all accessories entirely. The cosmetic design is fully customizable, so you can change the strap color and watch face to match your car’s livery, which makes it a fun addition for players who care about their in-game aesthetic. The performance boosts are small enough that they don’t break game balance, but noticeable enough that you’ll feel the difference in close races, especially if you compete in weekly community tournaments where every tenth of a second counts.
On the downside, the unlock grind is pretty steep for new players, so if you’re below level 30, you won’t be able to access the quest for at least a few weeks of regular play. It doesn’t offer any boosts to top speed or handling, so if you’re already perfect at launch timing and know all the tracks by heart, you might not get as much value out of it as a newer player. It also takes up one of your three accessory slots, so if you prefer to run with a traction control assist and a damage resistance booster, you’ll have to swap one of those out to use it, which might not be worth it if you race a lot of high-contact demolition modes.
At the end of the day, the 2017 Omega Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer is a solid investment for any player who wants to shave small, consistent seconds off their lap times and climb the multiplayer ranks faster. It's not a pay-to-win item that will instantly make you unbeatable, but it's a high-quality, well-designed tool that rewards players who put in the time to learn how to use its features properly. If you're willing to put in the small amount of grind required to unlock it, you'll be glad you did for every race moving forward.