Thrilling 60th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona

Driven by Oliver Jarvis, Helio Castroneves, Tom Blomqvist and Simon Pagenaud, finishing 761 laps

By: Rolex | Photos Courtesy of: Rolex

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Demonstrating determination and resilience around the clock in unseasonably cold conditions for Florida, the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura team were today crowned champions of the 60th anniversary Rolex 24 At DAYTONA. Rolex has been associated with this legendary 24-hour race for over half a century and this year marked 30 years as Title Sponsor, supporting this exacting test of skill, perseverance and endurance for competitors and their machines.

Meyer Shank Racing Acura team wins 60th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona
THE #60 MEYER SHANK RACING W/CURB-AGAJANIAN, ACURA DPI, DPI; OLIVER JARVIS (GBR), TOM BLOMQVIST (MCO), HELIO CASTRONEVES (BRA), SIMON PAGENAUD (FRA) PASS THE CHEQUERED FLAG | © Rolex/Stephan Cooper

The 61-car field – the largest since 2014 – crossed the green flag on Saturday at 13:40 (local time) to start the race. It was an enthralling opening few hours, with the low temperatures producing high-risk, high-reward conditions for the drivers across the five categories. At the front, the Cadillacs had the better pace early on but as night fell the Acuras came back stronger. As the Rolex clock passed the 12-hour mark, all seven of the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) entrants had led parts of the race and were on the lead lap, however, as sun rose the gruelling and demanding nature of the race took its toll on a number of DPi cars. In the closing hours, two full course cautions brought the four teams still in contention for the overall win, to within seconds of each other, setting up an intense sprint to the finish. Ultimately, the #60 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-05 held on to take the chequered flag after a momentous 761 laps.

Meyer Shank Racing Acura team wins 60th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona
OVERALL WINNER OF THE 2022 ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA – #60 MEYER SHANK RACING W/CURB-AGAJANIAN, ACURA DPI, DPI; OLIVER JARVIS (GBR), TOM BLOMQVIST (MCO), HELIO CASTRONEVES (BRA), SIMON PAGENAUD (FRA) | © Rolex/Stephan Cooper

Oliver Jarvis, Tom Blomqvist, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud shared driving responsibilities for the winning car, showcasing man and machine in perfect harmony, while testing the boundaries of human endeavour and engineering expertise. Having won the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA for a second consecutive year, Helio Castroneves says:

“It’s all about belief. We all believed that we could do it and we knew the hard work [involved]. However, when we accomplish something as we did today, it’s priceless. You push as hard as you can to win that Rolex.”

In line with the enduring tradition of the race, the winning drivers were presented with a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in recognition of the achievement, dedication and excellence required to take victory.

Meyer Shank Racing Acura team wins 60th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona
GTD PRO WINNERS – #9 PFAFF MOTORSPORTS, PORSCHE 911 GT3R, GTD PRO; MATT CAMPBELL (AUS), MATHIEU JAMINET (FRA), FELIPE NASR (BRA) | © Rolex/Stephan Cooper

North America’s premier sports car race saw wheel-to-wheel action across all five categories, with the #81 DragonSpeed USA ORECA 07-Gibson gaining honours in Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), having taken the lead with just 11 minutes remaining, while the #74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320 crossed the chequered flag first in Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3). Porsche took victories in both GT Daytona (GTD) classes. As expected it was a gripping and attritional GTD PRO competition with drama until the final lap, as the #9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R beat its sister car to the line, while the #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R took the win in GTD.

Meyer Shank Racing Acura team wins 60th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona
RACING DURING SUNSET AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY® | © Rolex/Stephan Cooper

In celebration of the six decades of competition at Daytona International Speedway®, the race honoured former drivers and owners – Mario Andretti, Scott Pruett, Bobby Rahal, Hurley Haywood, Jack Roush and Wayne Taylor – who together took on the coveted role of Grand Marshal. Reflecting on the ongoing legacy of this race, joint record-breaking and five-time overall winner of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, Scott Pruett says:

“When you look at the people, manufacturers and brands involved in Daytona, there’s no better place to go racing. I love the sunsets and the dawns, the changing conditions, and without a doubt when you get to Victory Lane first, it’s an incredible feeling. All the drivers across the generations come to the speedway for a chance to wear the coveted Rolex Daytona on their wrist, there is nothing as special. The Rolex 24’s unique history dates back 60 years – and it has been amazing to celebrate that milestone this weekend – the competition has evolved a lot over the decades, and it has a very exciting future.”

Meyer Shank Racing Acura team wins 60th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona
VICTORY LANE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE #60 MEYER SHANK RACING W/CURB-AGAJANIAN. LEFT-RIGHT: SIMON PAGENAUD (FRA), OLIVER JARVIS (GBR), HELIO CASTRONEVES (BRA), TOM BLOMQVIST (MCO) AND LUCA BERNASCONI (ROLEX USA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER) | © Rolex/Stephan Cooper

Though the curtain has fallen on this year’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, motor sport never stops, and attention now focuses on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the start of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship and the 90th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this summer. Next year, the automotive world is set to return to Daytona for the start of a new era, with the return of the legendary Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) name and the introduction of the Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) cars. Rolex supports the evolution of motor sport through each generation as it continues to push the boundaries of performance and to redefine and improve technology.

Meyer Shank Racing Acura team wins 60th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona
2022 ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA TROPHY AND THE ENGRAVED ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS OF THE RACE | © Rolex/Stephan Cooper

Fast Facts:

  • In Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), IndyCar’s Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta along with drivers Devlin DeFrancesco and Eric Lux finished P1 in the #81 DragonSpeed ORECA 07-Gibson.
  • The #74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320 topped the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) podium thanks to fantastic driving by Felipe Fraga, Michael Cooper, Kay van Berlo and Gar Robinson.
  • Pfaff Motorsports in the #9 Porsche 911 GT3R battled to the very last lap for their GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) victory, with the three-driver team of Felipe Nasr, Matt Campbell and Mathieu Jaminet.
  • The GTD class win was captured by the Wright Motorsports #16 Porsche 911 GT3R driven by Ryan Hardwick, Zacharie Robichon, Jan Heylen and Richard Lietz.
  • 61 cars competed in the annual race against the clock.
  • This year marked Rolex’s 30th anniversary as Title Sponsor.
  • Rolex has supported the event since the early 1960s and went on to name one of its most iconic watches after this temple of motorsport.
  • Along with the prestige of winning the race, the drivers who completed the greatest number of laps in 24 hours received an engraved Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona.
  • As part of the forthcoming 60th-anniversary celebrations, Daytona International Speedway® honored pervious champions, including Mario Andretti, Hurley Haywood, and Scott Pruett, as well as the machines which carried them to victory.

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