2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona: the dawn of a new era at endurance racing

The official rehearsal for the race—known as the Roar Before the Rolex 24—took place last January 23, to have the teams and drivers familiarise themselves with the demands of the 5.73-kilometre tri-oval circuit.

During the three-day preparation, the five classes participated in qualifying, with the reigning champion, #60 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06, driven by Tom Blomqvist, clinching pole position in the final few seconds ahead of an incredibly competitive field.

At 1.40pm (local time) on January 28, the Rolex clock will commence its 24-hour countdown as the 61-car grid tackles the 61st edition of Rolex 24 at Daytona. Renowned manufacturers, including BMW and Porsche, are returning to the top category, as the pioneering Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) cars make their highly anticipated debut. For the first time in endurance racing history, a transatlantic agreement will enable the LMDh machines to compete in championships and competitions across the globe.

This includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans—the world’s oldest and most iconic endurance race celebrating its 100th anniversary—of which Rolex has been the official timepiece since 2001. The LMDh cars, competing at Daytona International Speedway as part of the revived Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, encourage groundbreaking design in the quest for ultimate performance and will feature nine of the most sustainable, hybrid technology cars in North America.

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Famed for having more hours of darkness than daylight, the Rolex 24 at Daytona continues to welcome drivers from around the world, as they look to challenge themselves in extreme conditions and in the most avant-garde sports cars. The exciting GTP line-up at the event includes three-time overall Rolex 24 winner and IndyCar legend Scott Dixon, who partners Sébastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande at Chip Ganassi Racing. Meanwhile, recently crowned 2022 FIA World Endurance Champion and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2022, Brendon Hartley, joins Wayne Taylor Racing. Following his retirement from Formula 1, Romain Grosjean will make his American endurance debut in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) class.

In this season of milestones, and Rolex having a wider impact on motorsports, Rolex Testimonee and nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen says, "The transatlantic relationship we now have in endurance racing is very important to the sport and its future; it shows camaraderie, respect and development. This year has brought a number of changes, with advancements in technology and engineering, alongside many new teams and drivers entering. That is what Rolex and motorsport are about—always improving and breaking down the boundaries of possibility."

While 55-year Rolex Testimonee and three-time FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart adds, "To this day, Rolex continues to be involved with the best events in motorsport. The Daytona watch embodies the brand’s enduring association with the Rolex 24 At Daytona and is the ultimate reward for a racing driver."

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The alliance between Rolex and motorsport began when Sir Malcolm Campbell broke World Land Speed Records with a Rolex watch on his wrist. With its notable support for Daytona International Speedway racing, Rolex continuously awards the victors of the competition who have triumphed on the course with a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona.

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