Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Rolex and motor sport go way back, all the way to the 1930s, back when it was less about lap times and more about pushing limits. One of the first to do just that was Sir Malcolm Campbell. He had a Rolex Oyster strapped to his wrist when he became the first to break the 300mph mark in his legendary Bluebird. That moment didn’t just put him in the history books, it marked the start of Rolex’s lasting bond with racing.
Over the years, that connection’s only grown stronger. Rolex has become the go-to name in timekeeping for some of the toughest endurance races: from the thrilling Daytona to the straights of Le Mans, and the vintage glamour of Goodwood and Monterey. It’s not just about tracking time; it’s about celebrating it, honouring drivers and machines that define generations. Endurance racing has always been one of the toughest tests in motorsport—not just for drivers, but for the machines and teams behind them. It’s where grit meets engineering, and time is everything.
Rolex has long been at the heart of this world, partnering with the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and three of the sport’s most iconic races: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Le Mans, which kicked off in 1923, is the original endurance showdown. It’s less about outright speed and more about how far you can go in 24 hours—and how well your car holds up doing it. Drivers swap shifts through the day and night, battling fatigue, weather, and constant pressure. It’s the kind of race every serious racer dreams of. From just 33 teams at the start to over 60 cars today, it’s become a proving ground for carmakers and private teams alike, showcasing what their machines can really do.
Across the Atlantic, Daytona is just as legendary. Held at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA brings together the world’s best for another punishing 24-hour race. It’s where only the toughest cars and sharpest teams survive. As five-time winner Scott Pruett puts it: “The racing becomes really tight in those final hours, as every driver focuses on getting that coveted Rolex Daytona. This is when the stakes are high, everyone knows what’s up for grabs. Those final moments are what makes this event so exceptional.”
Then there’s Sebring. The 12-hour race there might be shorter, but the track itself is brutal. It’s often used as a warmup for Le Mans, giving teams a proper shake-down to see what’ll hold and what won’t. Different circuits, different challenges—but the same spirit runs through them all: resilience, precision, and a relentless pursuit of performance.
There’s also nothing quite like the charm of vintage motorsport, and Rolex is right in the thick of it—backing some of the most iconic classic car events around. From the elegance of Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® by Rolex, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering to the historic racing of the Goodwood Revival in West Sussex, these gatherings are all about celebrating the golden age of motoring. At Goodwood, it’s like stepping into a time machine. Every September, the Revival brings together some 300 pre-1966 cars and bikes for a weekend of proper old-school racing. It’s pure nostalgia, with legends like Sir Jackie Stewart, Tom Kristensen and Jenson Button often spotted behind the wheel—not for trophies but for the love of it. These days, the game’s evolving. The challenge isn’t just going faster, it’s going further—and using less. Teams and manufacturers are now balancing raw power with energy efficiency, racing against tight regulations and even tighter deadlines. And Rolex is right there with them, still keeping perfect time as the sport pushes into the future.
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