As day turned to night, and back again, the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans delivered a gripping demonstration of human performance and mechanical prowess.
The #83 AF Corse, Ferrari 499P delivered under pressure in this unforgiving contest to achieve victory – the Italian manufacturer’s third consecutive win at Circuit de la Sarthe.
After more than 100 years, the 24 Hours of Le Mans continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, standing as the ultimate test of endurance. Rolex has supported the race as the Exclusive Major Partner and Official Timepiece since 2001, honouring those who pursue excellence on one of the most demanding stages in motor sport.
Emotions were high on the grid and in the grandstands before the start of the race as Rolex Testimonee Roger Federer delivered the famous words, “pilotes, démarrez vos moteurs” (drivers, start your engines). Known for his sportsmanship and enduring legacy, Federer set the tone for the marathon journey ahead, waving the French Tricolor flag with the same grace that saw him win 20 Grand Slam® titles.
The 186-driver field was stacked with talent, including fellow Rolex Testimonees Jenson Button and Jamie Chadwick, competing in the Hypercar and LMP2 categories respectively.
Chadwick was making her debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this past weekend behind the wheel of the #18 IDEC Sport. After a solid start and a strong night, the team suffered heartbreak as dawn broke, with the Le Mans fairytale coming to a premature end. Chadwick reflects on her first chapter at the 24 Hour of Le Mans:
“We had a great deal of confidence heading into this race, based on the strong start we made in the European Le Mans Series, but Le Mans presents an entirely different challenge. We were under no illusions as to how tough this was going to be. It’s not the result we wanted but we’re incredibly proud and fully embraced the challenge.”
The twice-around-the-clock race was relentless from start to finish, and began with a bold first lap overtake by Porsche. Ferrari soon took control, with all three cars leading for long periods, but the German team remained a fierce contender and the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport took second place. In Chadwick’s LMP2 category, it was the #43 Inter Europol Competition that clinched victory, while the #92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche came out on top in the LMGT3 class.
In the days leading up to the race, Cadillac made history, securing a 1–2 result in Hyperpole, a first for the American marque. While the team wasn’t able to carry this momentum into the race, Rolex Testimonee Button driving the #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, delivered a smooth performance to finish 8th. The British driver will be hoping to convert the single lap speed they displayed into the next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in São Paulo next month, a defining venue in Button’s decorated career.
Tom Kristensen, the most successful driver in the race’s history with nine overall victories, remains a heroic and inspirational presence at Circuit de la Sarthe. Kristensen, who has been part of the Rolex family for over 15 years, reflects on the spectacle: “This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was fiercely competitive, and Ferrari delivered a composed, winning performance.
Robert Kubica, Philip Hanson and Yifei Ye drove with control, and while the #6 Porsche challenged, it was a deserved win for AF Corse. Le Mans rewards performance – and they earned their place in history.” The overall winners were awarded a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona, in recognition of their extraordinary journey to victory.
Kristensen continues: “Receiving a Rolex Daytona on the podium after displaying such dedication and perseverance is particularly memorable – the watch will forever tell the story of this very special race and moment. We carry a victory at Le Mans with pride for the rest of our lives and the same is true for the watch.”
