Mastering the power of mechanics to defy the laws of time. Controlling risk to determine the ideal trajectory. And holding on to victory. Rolex is a major partner of legendary endurance championships, the most emblematic events and the most remarkable names in motor sport.
Published on June 12, 2025
The 24 Hours of Le Mans, motor sport's oldest endurance race
The 24 Hours of Le Mans celebrates motor sport endurance and excellence. As night falls on the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe, the race pushes every driver’s skill and resilience. Inaugurated in 1923, its first edition was contested by 33 teams of two drivers. Today, more than 60 cars with three drivers each strive for ascendancy, as large manufacturers and private teams showcase their technological expertise. Since 2001, Rolex has been Exclusive Major Partner and Official Timepiece of this impressive challenge, celebrating drivers’ efforts in their pursuit of the crowning achievement that is finishing first.
At the 5.73-kilometre (3.56-mile) Daytona International Speedway in Florida, the greatest endurance drivers and teams compete for 24 hours. Only the hardiest temperaments and the most accomplished mechanical and technical performances can prevail. Rankings are based on the distance covered within the allotted time. Rolex has been Title Sponsor and Official Timepiece of the event since 1992.
Established in the United States in 1952, the 12 Hours of Sebring has a reputation for being one of the most challenging endurance races in the world. With its uneven and bumpy surface, Sebring International Raceway is a true gauge of car reliability. It is here, in March, that many competitors in the 24 Hours of Le Mans come to test the mechanical strength of their machines. Rolex is Official Timepiece of the competition.
The brand awards a Cosmograph Daytona to the winners of each of these three emblematic events, which make up the triple crown of endurance racing.
Rolex enjoys partnerships with the most important organisations in endurance racing. Since 2001, the brand has supported the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which stages the 24 Hours of Le Mans and oversees the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the largest series of international sports car competitions.
Doing better with less. This is the two-fold sporting and environmental challenge that racing teams and manufacturers are facing today: achieving energy efficiency while pushing the limits of performance even further. Rolex has always been committed to the dynamics of progress and supports motor sport in this profound transformation.
With nine victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Tom Kristensen, a Rolex Testimonee since 2010, is the most successful driver in the race’s history. He triumphed on his first appearance in 1997 and reigned supreme from 2000 to 2005. The Dane added two further victories, in 2008 and 2013. Out of 18 race participations, Kristensen finished on the podium 15 times. His track record also includes an FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) title in 2013 and six wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Jamie Chadwick was not yet 16 when she won the Silverstone 24 Hour in 2015. The first female champion of the British GT Championship and a three-time winner of the all-women W-Series (Formula 3), Chadwick embodies the future of motor sport. A Rolex Testimonee since 2022, she achieved race victories in her debut season competing in the European Le Mans Series in 2025.
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