GENEVA – The Rolex 24 At DAYTONA will take place next week from Saturday 27–Sunday 28 January at Daytona International Speedway®, which this year celebrates its 65th anniversary. This iconic race is an integral part of Rolex’s enduring alliance with motor sport and marks the start of the Swiss watchmaker’s presence in the 2024 racing season. A supporter of the twice-around-the-clock challenge since the 1960s, Rolex formalized its commitment in 1992 by becoming the Title Sponsor, championing the spirit of human endeavour, engineering advancements and the relentless pursuit of excellence. For its 62nd edition, the famed race welcomes back 56 past winners and luminaries from across motor sport.
Joining the list of legends to race at the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA is Rolex Testimonee and 2009 FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion, Jenson Button. Having competed in Formula 1® from 2000 to 2016, and in last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, Button brings a wealth of skill and expertise to the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport team, where he lines up alongside Colton Herta, Jordan Taylor and Louis Delétraz. In the quest for another victory, Button says:
“The Rolex 24 At Daytona is an incredibly special race, and it will be an honour to compete there next weekend, especially as a Rolex Testimonee. It’s definitely something I would never have dreamed possible. There is still a lot to learn but I’m excited for this journey and looking forward to the challenge. I’ve always been fascinated by endurance racing – I love the team effort, the ever-changing conditions and having to continuously think on your feet. The sport is going from strength to strength, and with a multitude of manufacturers, a lot of big teams and great drivers, the competition is extremely high at this year’s Rolex 24.”
Button will race in the Acura ARX-06 GTP, the triumphant brand at the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA for the past three years. In preparation for the main event, the entire 60-car field will convene this week for the ROAR Before the Rolex 24, which acts as an official rehearsal. In a much-anticipated return for 2024, Lamborghini will join high-profile manufacturers in the top Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, which for the second successive year showcases the Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) cars. Testament to the perseverance at the heart of the event, the Rolex 24-hour clock will signal the start of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA at 1.40 p.m. local time on Saturday 27 January.
Rolex’s relationship with motor sport dates back to the 1930s when Sir Malcolm Campbell set five of his nine World Land Speed Records. In 1933, behind the wheel of his car Bluebird with a Rolex Oyster on his wrist, he reached 272 mph (438 km/h) on the flat sand of Daytona Beach. This historic moment laid the foundation for Rolex’s long-standing commitment to motor sport. The Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona watch, synonymous with precision and endurance, was named after the famed racing venue. This year’s winners of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA will be presented with a specially engraved Daytona.
Reflecting on the Swiss watchmaker’s association with motor sport, Button says:
“As a racing driver, I love Rolex’s historic connection to motor sport, a relationship that has stood the test of time. Through its dedication to speed and motor sport, Rolex created the Cosmograph, a timepiece that became the iconic Daytona. Everyone knows this watch is for the racing driver, and it’s the watch all of us want to win.”
