Rolex and the 24 Hours of Le Mans welcome the next 100 years
June 15, 2024 will see the next hundred years of racing begin. The 24 Hours of Lemans will begin its 101st year at 4pm local time at the Circuit de La Sartre. Rolex will once again be the Exclusive Major Sponsor and Official Timepiece, on track and on the winning wrists.
186 drivers and 62 cars will be fighting against the clock. And it is against the clock. In this race the winner is determined by who has covered the most distance when the Rolex countdown clock runs out and not necessarily when it crosses the finish line. Their can often Lear to very precise calculations and timing considerations and also strategies.
Jenson Button, Rolex Testimonee and 2009 FIA Formula 1 Drivers World Champion comes back to Le Mans. He shares his thoughts.
“In motor sport, time is of the essence. Whether looking at lap times, counting down the hours or preparing for your next shift, you are always watching the clock. It makes complete sense that Rolex is deeply entwined with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The race is very special to me as it’s so renowned and closely connected to Rolex.”
Tom Kristensen, nine-time winner of the 24 Hours Of Le Mans, has this to say about the significance of the event. And its effect on the future.
“The new manufacturers joining the grid in 2024 encourage healthy competition among returning teams and drivers, while attracting an even bigger audience. The more high-profile car brands participating will ultimately inspire more world-class racing at Le Mans. It’s amazing to see the sport gaining greater momentum and recognition globally because of the event. The 24 Hours of Le Mans has always attracted drivers from all areas of motor sport and continues to do so in this new century.”
Rolex has had a long history of relationships with Motorsports, as far back as Sir Malcolm Gladwell’s World Land Speed Record runs in the 1930s when he became the first driver to reach and pass the 300 mph barrier.
While the winning photo is usually taken as the cars take the checkered flag as they cross the start/finish line, in reality the winner is called when the ROLEX countdown clock hits 24 full hours, and officials determine what cars have gone what distances.
Winners of the mythic race get one of the most mythic of collectibles, a specially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona.