The 58th edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona takes place Saturday 25 January, marking the start of the 2020 motor sport season for Rolex. Baroque Ground finds out more
Swiss watch brand Rolex has been Title Sponsor of the 24-hour endurance contest, Rolex 24 at Daytona, since 1992. The race, which took place this past weekend, highlights Rolex’s commitment to motoring excellence. The partnership between Rolex and D Daytona began in the early 1930s when Sir Malcolm Campbell wore a Rolex timepiece while breaking land speed records at Daytona Beach.
The 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is contested over 12 rounds between January and October. The 39-car field that takes on North America’s most pre-eminent endurance race is made up of four classes – Daytona Prototype international (Dpi), Le lMans Prototype 2 (LMP2), GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD).
Every year, the Rolex 24 Daytona attracts high-profile drivers from multiple racing disciplines, and offers them the opportunity to put their experience and expertise to the test. The race, which is, as its name implies, 24 hours of racing, is an extreme test of man and machine – and the circuit is also a challenge, and requires technical precision and meticulous attention to detail. It’s a grueling endurance race that includes 13 hours of night driving – the longest time any driver has to drive in the dark in a 24-hour race. To recognize their achievements, winning drivers are rewarded with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona.
Rolex 24 Daytona Schedule
Friday 24 January
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
Saturday 25 January
Rolex 24
Sunday 26 January
Rolex 24