Perseverance Around the Clock at The 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona
“Drivers, start your engines” announced Rolex Testimonee Jamie Chadwick, the 2025 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA Grand Marshal, just before 1.40 p.m. local time on Saturday 25 January marking the start of the 63rd running of this revered race. After 24 tireless, dramatic and ever-changing hours, it was the #7 Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche 963 who achieved glory for the second consecutive year, marking the 20th win at the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA for the German manufacturer.
Chadwick is the first female and active driver in recent history to serve as Grand Marshal at the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, demonstrating the important and growing role of women in motor sport. Embracing a weekend of Grand Marshal duties and thrilling racing, Chadwick shares her admiration of the spectacle as well as the drivers and teams taking part:
“I’ve followed the Rolex 24 for many years, so to witness the race firsthand as Grand Marshal is something I will remember forever. It has been impressive to see how tough this race is, from the challenging circuit to the steep banking and the many hours of darkness. I would love to return as a competitor, and to have a chance of winning a Daytona watch as a Rolex Testimonee would be the ultimate prize – one that is truly earned.”
Rolex has partnered the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA since the 1960s and became Title Sponsor in 1992, recognizing the unwavering determination and exacting skill displayed during this legendary race. The drivers who triumphed at the 2025 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA received a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in Victory Lane. Revered for its iconic status and performance, the timepiece’s legacy is perpetually linked to Daytona International Speedway® and is the ultimate accolade for racing drivers. The 2025 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA marks 30 years since Oscar-winning actor and racing driver Paul Newman, who regularly wore a Daytona, won in class at the 1995 edition. Newman was 70 years old, making him the oldest driver at the time to win a sanctioned race. A legend on and off the track, this year’s running also falls on what would have been Newman’s 100th birthday.
The 2025 61-car field showcased resilience and adaptability throughout the 24 hours, as drivers and teams contended with unrelenting pressure, fatigue and mechanical issues. As the Rolex clock counted down, drivers raced wheel-to-wheel in variable conditions, from the bitterly cold night and high winds to the morning’s bright rays. With the marathon becoming a sprint in the closing moments, a skilful display saw the #60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing, Acura ARX-06 take second place and #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche 963 place third. Alongside the victors, both machines completed an impressive 781 laps on the 5.73 kilometre (3.56 mile) tri-oval track. Rolex 24 At DAYTONA record five-time winner Scott Pruett reflects on the deciding moments at this year’s event:
“The Rolex 24 At DAYTONA never disappoints. The racing becomes really tight in those final hours, as every driver focuses on getting that coveted Rolex Daytona. This is when the stakes are high, everyone knows what’s up for grabs. Those final moments are what makes this event so exceptional. A big congratulations to the winners.”
In the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) it was ultimately the #8 Tower Motorsports, Oreca 07-Gibson who took the chequered flag. Having dominated at the top of the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) category, the #65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports, Ford Mustang GT3 secured honours and the #13 AWA, Corvette Z06 GT3.R claimed victory in the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class.
The 2025 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA has set the tone for an enthralling motor sport season, and Rolex Testimonee and endurance racing legend Tom Kristensen shares his anticipation for the year ahead:
“What a great way to start the 2025 endurance racing season – the quality of driving across the categories at the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA always amazes me. The golden era of endurance racing continues with top manufacturers and exceptional talent coming into the sport, creating such thrilling competition. The FIA World Endurance Championship and the 12 Hours of Sebring are next on the calendar, all leading towards the crown jewel of the sport – the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.”