PRESS RELEASE
EXCITEMENT BUILDS FOR 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2020
Geneva, 17 September 2020 – The rescheduled 88th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans gets underway at 14:30 (local time) on Saturday 19 September, when the world’s most advanced endurance cars compete at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Rolex celebrates its 20th year as the Official Timepiece of this twice-around-the-clock contest, reflecting its long-standing support of automotive excellence and association with motor sport that dates back to the 1930s.
After months of planning, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) confirmed in August that the race would be held behind closed doors for the first time in its 97- year history. “It’s good to be going racing, even though we cannot all be there to celebrate our sport and this special event,” says Tom Kristensen, Rolex Testimonee and record nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A condensed four-day schedule, as well as unfamiliar autumnal conditions, will place extra pressure on the competitors this year. “It’s going to be a challenge,” says Kristensen. “The teams won’t be able to check everything as thoroughly as they usually would, so there will be many unknowns going into the 24 hours. The drivers will have to rely on their senses more than ever – listening, watching and feeling as they adapt to their constantly evolving car.” On the additional four hours of darkness and the anticipated cooler temperatures – compared with a traditional June event – the Danish legend continues: “For sure, racing in September is going to be different. The drivers will have to be prepared to deliver consistently in the darkness for longer and it will be colder, which means that if the rain arrives, the track won’t dry so quickly.”
This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans also has a new qualifying format. After a preliminary session for all 59 cars this afternoon, the fastest six from each of the four classes advance to Friday morning’s Hyperpole, which will establish the top starting positions. In an ultimate display of speed and concentration, the 24 competitors will complete one clear run of the 13.626-km circuit to set their fastest time. Kristensen adds: “The drivers have to execute that lap to perfection. It’s a very long distance, with many opportunities to make mistakes. It is truly a race against the clock, where every millisecond counts.”
The 2020 field comprises 29 Prototype and 30 Le Mans Grand Touring Endurance (LMGTE) cars, including defending FIA World Endurance Champions, the No. 8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, who are aiming for a third consecutive race victory.
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However, with a successful 2019–2020 season to date, the privateer teams will be determined to further prove their reliability and resilience by overcoming the manufacturer opposition. Eyes will also be on the LMGTE competition, as Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin vie for honours in both the Pro and Am classes, putting their technological expertise and engineering excellence to the test in one of motor sport’s toughest environments.
This prestigious race demands dedication and know-how, as drivers seek to strike the perfect balance between speed and durability while pushing their machines to the limit to complete the furthest distance in 24 hours. The overall winners are presented with a specially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in recognition of their achievement. Kristensen, who this year marks his 10th anniversary as part of the Rolex family, says: “As a Le Mans winner, when you look at your Daytona, it does not only tell you lap times but conveys the deep history of our sport and reminds you of a very special, hard-earned victory.”
Imagery throughout the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2020 will be available on the Rolex Pressroom.
ROLEX AND MOTOR SPORT Rolex’s close ties with motor sport date back to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s World Land Speed Record successes in the 1930s, when he became the first driver to break the 300 mph barrier (483 km/h) at the wheel of his car, Bluebird. Since then, Rolex’s presence in motor racing has grown steadily, its support extending to revered endurance events such as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship. In 2013, Rolex became associated with Formula 1®, the pinnacle of motor sport, having supported Rolex Testimonee Sir Jackie Stewart since 1968. The three-time FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion has been joined by fellow high achievers from the world of motor sport: Tom Kristensen, the record nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner; Mark Webber, the multiple Formula 1® race winner and 2015 FIA World Endurance Champion; and Nico Rosberg, the 2016 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion. The brand also has a global appreciation for classic automotive events steeped in elegance, beauty and tradition, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the Goodwood Revival.
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ABOUT ROLEX AN UNRIVALLED REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND EXPERTISE Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing
of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, Rolex is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
To download high-resolution images, please visit the Rolex Pressroom:
ROLEX AND THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS: https://pressroom.rolex.com/en/sports- and-culture/partnership-activities/rolex- and-motor-sports/24-heures-du-mans.html
ROLEX PRESSROOM: pressroom.rolex.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Rolex SA Virginie Chevailler [email protected] Tel: +41 (0)22 302 26 19
Influence Sports & Media Sophie Harrison [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)7506 718 938
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