How Rolex Defined The Moment At The 2026 Rolex 24 At Daytona

Time measured with Rolex precision was the ultimate decider at the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA. As the small hand on the iconic Rolex countdown clock completed its final rotation, victory was sealed by a margin of just 1.569 seconds. Over 24 relentless hours through daylight, darkness and back again North America’s premier endurance race demanded absolute accuracy from every team, driver and machine. When the chequered flag finally fell, it was the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport that prevailed, securing a third consecutive overall win in a contest where every second truly counted.

For the winners, the journey culminated in Victory Lane with the presentation of a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona a timepiece that is inseparable from the race itself. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Oyster, the pioneering waterproof watch that accompanied Sir Malcolm Campbell during his World Land Speed Records on Daytona Beach in the 1930s and later inspired the creation of the Daytona chronograph. Designed in 1963 for professional racing drivers, the Cosmograph Daytona has become the ultimate reward for excellence on track, forever linked by name and spirit to this legendary circuit.

Rolex’s presence at Daytona is as enduring as the race itself. Ever-present at Daytona International Speedway® since the late 1950s, the Swiss watchmaker became Title Sponsor in 1992, placing the crown at the very heart of endurance racing. For decades, Rolex has borne witness to the sport’s defining moments, where mechanical resilience, human endurance and precision timing converge.

The opening moments set the tone for an exceptional weekend, underscored by the stature of the Rolex family. Rolex Testimonee and 11-time LPGA Tour champion Lexi Thompson exchanged the fairway for the racetrack as Grand Marshal, delivering the iconic command, “Drivers, start your engines,” to a record crowd. Among those absorbing the atmosphere was fellow Rolex Testimonee Jenson Button, who reflected: “I have always loved this race and had a great experience competing here in 2024. Fresh from retiring from full-time racing, it’s been amazing to be back at the Rolex 24 this weekend and to witness the action as a spectator without the pressure of racing.”

That intensity unfolded on the 5.73-kilometre (3.56-mile) tri-oval, its dramatic 31-degree banking engineered for extreme speed. For the 228 drivers across the 60-car field, the race quickly evolved into a test of concentration and resolve as thick mist enveloped the speedway from dusk until dawn. A prolonged safety car period, ending with six hours and 30 minutes remaining, set the stage for a decisive sprint to the finish—one where strategy, timing and flawless execution became paramount.

Rolex Testimonee and five-time Rolex 24 At DAYTONA winner Scott Pruett captured the essence of the challenge: “Managing the added complication of the fog has shaped the teams’ tactics this weekend. Even under the yellow flags, you’re still racing and there’s a tremendous amount of strategy that plays out during cautions which can ultimately decide the race. If you don’t prepare and execute everything perfectly, you won’t win. A victory is shared by each and every member of a team, and that’s what is so incredibly special about this race.”

Precision prevailed across every category. In Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), the #4 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA claimed victory. The #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW emerged on top in Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD Pro), while the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG secured honours in the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class each result decided by the finest of margins.

Reflecting on the significance of the partnership, Rolex Testimonee Tom Kristensen said: “Rolex has been a part of this event since the very beginning and the relationship is a match made in heaven. Rolex is an institution at Daytona International Speedway, embedded in the history and representing and rewarding the extraordinary. Winning a Daytona at Daytona is a dream for any driver this watch is the ultimate symbol of racing success.”

Each year, the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA signals the start of the global endurance racing calendar and reaffirms Rolex’s central role in the sport. As the curtain-raiser to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, it sets the tone for a season defined by innovation, competition and endurance. From Daytona, the action continues worldwide, with the FIA World Endurance Championship beginning in late March and building towards the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, where Rolex marks 25 years of partnership. In 2026, Rolex also celebrates a decade as Official Timepiece of the WEC further affirming its long-standing commitment to the most prestigious events, championships and governing bodies in endurance racing.