ROLEX TESTIMONEE NYCK DE VRIES WRITES A NEW CHAPTER AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026

Circuit de la Sarthe, 15 June 2026 – This past weekend, Rolex Testimonee Nyck de Vries and his #7 TOYOTA RACING teammates produced one of the most remarkable drives in recent history to take his maiden victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The French Tricolore flag marked the start of this journey at 4.00 p.m. local time on Saturday 13 June 2026, waving through 62 cars to commence the 94th edition. From here, every moment of the 86,400-second test mattered, and when the Rolex clock finally completed its second rotation, the #7 car had climbed from 14th place on the grid to write a new chapter in the race's century-long story. At a contest where time dictates everything, this year Rolex celebrates its 25th anniversary as Exclusive Major Partner and Official Timepiece, having first partnered the event in 2001.

ROLEX TESTIMONEE NYCK DE VRIES HOLDING THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026 TROPHY
ROLEX TESTIMONEE NYCK DE VRIES HOLDING THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026 TROPHY - Open lightbox

Having mastered the clock on his third and now golden appearance in the Hypercar class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an elated de Vries said:

“It feels like the stars were aligned. I'm incredibly relieved and grateful for such an achievement. Le Mans chooses you. There were so many times during the race where we felt like we had no chance at all, we were just focused on collecting points for the FIA World Endurance Championship – it proves that you should never give up and always hang in there. Having joined the Rolex family of Testimonees at the beginning of the year, I feel even prouder now to have secured the crown and become a Le Mans winner, so I'm incredibly happy. I carry a real sense of honour to be able to contribute to Rolex’s legacy and do something special for both myself and the brand. Racing at Circuit de la Sarthe and seeing the Rolex branding means something different to me now.”

START OF THE 94TH EDITION OF THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
START OF THE 94TH EDITION OF THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS - Open lightbox

Few appreciate the scale of achievement at Circuit de la Sarthe more than de Vries’ fellow Rolex Testimonee Tom Kristensen, who has won the race a record nine times. Kristensen, who shared a few words with de Vries before the race, said:

“To win at Le Mans fulfils a dream for him, that's what Nyck told me. I believed earlier in the week that Toyota were favourites and were going to win, but I couldn't predict which car, so I said to him, ‘it's up to you to make the difference’ and he did exactly that.”

It was a tactical masterclass from TOYOTA RACING, as the Japanese team made the right decisions under extreme pressure to engineer a perfect victory, ahead of the #20 BMW M TEAM WRT in second and #8 TOYOTA RACING in third. In LMP2 victory went to #43 Inter Europol Competition while it was the #33 TF Sport that came out on top in LMGT3.

ROLEX TESTIMONEES TOM KRISTENSEN, JAMIE CHADWICK AND NYCK DE VRIES AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026
ROLEX TESTIMONEES TOM KRISTENSEN, JAMIE CHADWICK AND NYCK DE VRIES AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026 - Open lightbox

History was also made earlier in the week when Rolex Testimonee Jamie Chadwick became the first woman to drive a Hypercar at Circuit de la Sarthe during a test day. The British driver continues to break boundaries and make her mark across motor sport. Chadwick said:

“To drive a car like this, at a track like this, is something I'm going to look back on in a few years' time and realize how special it was. I think there's a huge transition happening now, and not just with me – there are so many female drivers paving the way, we're going to see women at the highest level at Le Mans and ultimately on the top step of the podium.”

THE SUN RISES AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026
THE SUN RISES AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026 - Open lightbox

On Sunday afternoon, crowds flooded the track vying for a glimpse of the podium and the winners’ crowning moment. Emotions were at an all-time high for de Vries and his teammates as the trio stepped up to lift the trophy and receive their specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytonas. The timepiece has become the ultimate symbol of achievement in endurance racing, and given it was the prize the Dutchman had set out to claim, it was a moment so significant that time seemed to stand still. Reflecting on this well-deserved victory, Kristensen continued:

“It has been another fantastic, historic Le Mans – tense all the way. Nyck and his team have done extremely well, even with setbacks they were fighting the entire race. And now, new names are engraved onto the trophy and they proudly take home the winners’ Daytona watch.”
24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026 TROPHY AND THE ENGRAVED ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS OF THE RACE
24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2026 TROPHY AND THE ENGRAVED ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS OF THE RACE - Open lightbox

The clock never truly stops in this discipline, and attention now turns to the next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo, from 10–12 July 2026. This year, Rolex's quarter-century celebration at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is accompanied by a second milestone, 10 years as Official Timepiece of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Continuing the Swiss watchmaker’s legacy in endurance racing dating back to the 1960s, Rolex honours the finest talents whose journeys are defined by time – with each moment testament to their commitment and perseverance.

ROLEX AND MOTOR SPORT
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing the journey marked by milestones and emotions that culminates in defining moments – determined by a path followed, not just a trophy. In motor sport this association started in the 1930s when Sir Malcolm Campbell set World Land Speed Records on Daytona Beach with a Rolex Oyster on his wrist. Since then, Rolex’s support has grown, extending to the sport’s most esteemed figures, revered endurance championships and leading events. This affiliation encompasses the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and the contests that come together to form the Triple Crown of Endurance Racing – the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the Twelve Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For almost three decades, Rolex has also supported classic automotive events steeped in elegance, beauty and tradition, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and the Goodwood Revival. Rolex welcomed motor sport icon Sir Jackie Stewart into its family of Testimonees in 1968 and he has since been joined by fellow legends: Tom Kristensen, the record nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Mark Webber, the 2015 FIA World Endurance Champion and multiple Grand Prix™ winner. The Swiss watchmaker also supports the next generation of talent, including Jamie Chadwick, who continues to break down barriers across motor sport and Nyck de Vries, a leading figure in the WEC, with success across multiple disciplines. 

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