Press Release...
Daytona International Speedway, 25 January 2026 – As the small hand on the Rolex countdown clock completed its final rotation, the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA was decided by just 1.569 seconds. Across 24 hours, from day to night and back again, North America’s premier endurance race demanded absolute precision from team, driver and machine.
Ultimately, it was the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport that prevailed to take the chequered flag and, in doing so, secured the car’s third consecutive overall win at the race. Ever-present at Daytona International Speedway® since the late 1950s, Rolex officially became Title Sponsor in 1992, with the crown bearing witness to the competition’s greatest moments.
The opening moments set the tone for an exceptional weekend for spectators and competitors alike. Rolex Testimonee and 11-time LPGA Tour champion Lexi Thompson traded the fairway for the racetrack to serve as Grand Marshal of the event, delivering the iconic command, “Drivers, start your engines” to a record attendance of racing fans. Among those watching the action was fellow member of the Rolex family Jenson Button. He said: “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.”
This intensity played out on the tri-oval 5.73 kilometre (3.56 mile) track, renowned for its dramatic 31-degree banking – designed specifically to enable vehicles to reach higher speeds. For the 228 drivers across the 60-car field, the race quickly became a test of determination and concentration, as thick mist covered the speedway from dusk until dawn. After a prolonged safety car period, with 6 hours 30 minutes remaining, the drivers and their teams were unleashed, leading to a sprint to the finish. Discussing the race, Rolex Testimonee and five-time Rolex 24 At DAYTONA winner Scott Pruett said: “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.”
Success was secured by the smallest margins across all categories, in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) it was the #4 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA which clinched the win. The #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW secured first place in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) category and it was the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG in the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class.
The journey to Victory Lane culminated in the presentation of a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona to the winning drivers. This year marks the 100th anniversary since the launch of the Oyster, a watch which accompanied Sir Malcolm Campbell during his World Land Speed Records on Daytona Beach in the 1930s and inspired the creation of the Daytona timepiece. Designed for motor racing professionals in 1963, and forever joined in name to this mythical place, the chronograph has become the ultimate reward for achievement on track. In admiration for Rolex’s partnership with Daytona, 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 marks the beginning of the global endurance racing calendar and Rolex’s presence at the heart of the sport. As the pinnacle moment of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the event sets the tone for a season shaped by close competition and innovation. From Daytona, action unfolds around the clock and the globe, with the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) commencing in late March and building towards the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, where Rolex marks 25 years of partnership. In 2026, the Swiss watchmaker also celebrates a decade as Official Timepiece of the WEC, affirming its commitment to the sport’s most prestigious events, championships and governing bodies.
