The 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is arguably the most anticipated motorsport event of the year and this milestone went down in racing history’s most interesting comebacks at the mythical Circuit de la Sarthe. The 24-hour endurance race was flagged off at exactly 4pm local time, and emerging as the winner was car No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse, witnessed by 325,000 live spectators. The Ferrari-backed team made history for claiming its first victory for the Italian team since 1965. The world’s most prestigious endurance race was first held in 1923, which has tested human and technical performance to its limits for a century.
All the three winners of the Ferrari team, Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi, who took turns driving 342 laps to clinch the centennial Le Mans championship title was awarded with a specially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona presented by nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and Rolex Testimonee Tom Kristensen on the podium together with the centenary trophy. Kristensen said : “Standing here alongside the winners of this milestone edition was a big moment for me. My experience of the 24 Hours of Le Mans means I have even more respect for what these drivers and teams have achieved over 24 hours. After all, it is this race that brought me into the Rolex family, and because of that Le Mans feels even more like home to me.”
It was a two-way fight for the title between the Maranello team and Toyota Gazoo Racing who took turns leading the race but the Ferrari team triumphed over the defending champion team Toyota. Former Formula 1 World Champion and Rolex Testimonee, Jenson Button, who also took part in the race said : “The 24 Hours of Le Mans is always special but to be competing in the 100th anniversary was exceptional. What a race – it threw everything at us and came down to the smallest margins. For us to be as competitive as we were is incredible and it’s very emotional for everyone involved.”
Rolex became the Official Timepiece of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2001, and to celebrate the race’s centennial year, it unveiled a special Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona at Circuit de la Sarthe. Crafted in 18 ct white gold, it comes with a Cerachrom bezel finished in black ceramic and what is very special about this timepiece is the number “100” on the tachymetric scale is finished in bright red ceramic honoring the race’s 100th year. The exclusive calibre 4312 movement comes with a see-through backcase and an Oyster bracelet. Another special feature exclusive to the watch is the hour indicator accumulates to 24 hours instead of 12 hours in ordinary Cosmograph Daytona models.
“When we see this unique Rolex Daytona, we see 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in one chronograph. It represents the dedication and teamwork, which makes me feel part of something greater. Ultimately, what brings us to these racetracks has remained the same throughout generations – passion, persistence, performance, perfect lap times and perfect timing. Le Mans started before me and it is something that will live forever,” Kristensen added.
