The Rolex 24 At Daytona Endurance Race Returns Today — With Rolex Daytonas Awaiting The Winners

A few hours from now, when a Rolex clock strikes 1:40 PM GMT-5, we’ll hear the roar of engines on Daytona International Speedway — a polyphonic roar made up of 60 engines across four categories. We’ll hear the raw howl of the GTD and GTD Pro categories, familiar supercar sounds. Bee-like, buzzing overtones, emanating from the LMP2 cars, fill the higher sonic spectrum. And then there is the futuristic combination of deep growls and high-pitched whines from the hybrid GTP cars.

Not all 60 voices will last until the end of this 24-hour opera. Among those who do will be the winning drivers of one of the most prestigious races on Earth. And, as a little bonus, those lucky souls will see a brand-new Rolex Daytona strapped to their wrists.

The Bluebird on Daytona Beach

Rolex and the Daytona International Speedway

Although this barely qualifies as watch news, we felt it was a good excuse to dig up some Rolex racing history. After all, it is no coincidence that there’s a “Daytona” in Rolex’s catalog. The Daytona connection, however, dates back further than the launch of the namesake model in 1963.

In fact, the connection dates back to 1933, when Sir Malcolm Campbell set his land-speed record at Daytona Beach, a figurative stone’s throw away from the current race track. He wore a Rolex Oyster while he was piloting his legendary Bluebird to a record-breaking speed of 438 km/h (272 mph). The Rolex Oyster itself, by the way, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Oh, it all connects so beautifully, doesn’t it?

Rolex became the official title sponsor of the 24 At Daytona in 1992. Since then, the race and the watch company have become almost synonymous in motorsports. Especially now that Rolex no longer sponsors F1, endurance racing is more important to the house than ever.

This year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona

As mentioned, 60 cars will take part in this 24-hour endurance race across four categories. The first category is the Grand Touring Prototype. These high-tech cars feature a single-source hybrid power train. You will find the likes of Porsche, Cadillac, and Aston Martin competing, among others. Next, we have the LMP2 category of standardized prototypes. Finally, there are two more categories, GTD Pro and GTD GT. The Pro category features GT3 racing cars and professional drivers. The GTD GT class contains similar GT3 cars but a mix of pro and amateur drivers.

Porsche Penske Motorsport arrives with hopes of a third consecutive title and its 20th overall victory. The team’s drivers may be favorites, but the competition is fierce. Cadillac Whelen, for instance, took the pole position for this afternoon, with drivers Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti. Similarly, Acura Meyer Shank plans to compete for the overall winner, with our compatriot driver Renger van der Zande on the roster.

Engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona presented to the winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona 2026

The winners in each class take home a Rolex Daytona ref. 126503 with a custom case back engraving. It reads: “Rolex 24 Daytona Winner 2026”. This Rolesor (steel and yellow gold) Daytona features a white dial and matching two-tone Oyster bracelet. Inside ticks the same caliber 4131 you find in regular-production models. All of this is a lengthy way of stating that the watch is a production-standard Ref. 126503, except for the engraved case back.

Not excited yet? Let Jenson Button warm you up

I, for one, will certainly have the TV on for much of the weekend. Granted, I am not much of a racing fan, but I do enjoy checking in now and then. If you aren’t convinced yet, let’s hear Jenson Button’s pitch:

“The Rolex 24 At Daytona is the perfect way to kick off the endurance racing season. The atmosphere is so pure, with flat-out racing for 24 hours. You are pushing the limit the entire time, with speeds up to 200 mph (322 km/h), steep banking, strong G-forces, and a short track that encourages lots of overtaking. Every component of these complex cars is maximized, and there’s never a moment’s rest. I’m excited to return to Daytona next week and to witness the action as a spectator for a change.”

You can take Button’s word for it, as he knows what he’s talking about. Perhaps better known for his F1 résumé, this Rolex Testimonee competed in 2024 and came in third overall. That’s good enough for me. Will you be watching? Let us know in the comments section below!