Endurance

A relentless pursuit of excellence. The resolve to push further. The instinct to lead. These are the qualities that set champions apart on the track. For decades, drivers have relied on Rolex’s precision to measure every fraction of a second. While the roots of endurance racing stretch back to the roaring engines of Daytona Beach in the 1920s, Rolex’s journey with the pinnacle of endurance—the 24 Hours of Le Mans—was firmly established in 2001, as the brand became Exclusive Major Partner and Official Timepiece. Since then, Rolex has celebrated the resilience, skill, and innovation that define this legendary race, where victory is not just earned at the finish line, but built through every lap in the pursuit of perfection.

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.

Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, legendary circuit, epic race

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.

The 12 Hours of Sebring, performance under pressure

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.

Reliability over time

Rolex enjoys partnerships with the most important organizations 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.

Tom Kristensen, Mr Le Mans

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, driver of the future

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.

With an enduring commitment to precision and performance, Rolex continues to stand at the forefront of global motor sport. Since becoming the Official Timepiece of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the brand has accompanied drivers and teams on one of the sport’s most demanding stages. At every turn of the Circuit de la Sarthe, Rolex’s timekeeping excellence supports their pursuit of endurance and mastery—hallmarks of a race that defines what it means to push beyond limits.

At J.R. Dunn Jewelers, an Official Rolex Jeweler in Lighthouse Point, Florida, a tradition of endurance has guided us for over fifty-five years. Located between Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale, our over 9,000-square-foot showroom invites you to experience the spirit of motor sport embodied in the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona—a timepiece born from the track, and built for those who chase greatness.