Rolex Marks 25 Years With the Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Rolex marked 25 years of its partnership with the Monterey Motorsports Reunion in 2026, as more than 400 historic cars returned to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during California's Monterey Car Week.
The 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion took place from 12 to 15 August, bringing together drivers, collectors, designers and motorsport enthusiasts for four days of historic racing.
Rolex first partnered with the event in 2001 and became its title sponsor in 2010. This year's gathering therefore represented a quarter of a century of the Swiss watchmaker's involvement with one of Monterey Car Week's major automotive events.
More Than 400 Historic Cars Race at Laguna Seca
More than 400 historic cars took part in the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, representing different periods of motorsport history.
Rather than being presented only as static exhibits, the cars returned to competition at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The circuit is known for its elevation changes, anticlockwise layout and famous blind Corkscrew turn.
The event combines historic racing with the preservation of significant competition cars, many of which are restored and maintained with close attention to period-correct details.
The combination of competition and preservation closely reflects the values Rolex associates with the event.
Tom Kristensen and Mark Webber at Monterey
Rolex Testimonee Tom Kristensen was among the prominent motorsport figures associated with the event.
Kristensen holds the record for the most overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, having won the endurance race nine times during his career.
His knowledge of Laguna Seca includes the circuit's elevation changes, anticlockwise layout and demanding Corkscrew, characteristics that make precision particularly important around the track.
Former Formula One and endurance racing driver Mark Webber was also part of the Rolex presence. Webber has been a Rolex Testimonee since 2017.
Monterey Car Week Extends Beyond the Racetrack
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion formed part of a wider programme of automotive events held around Monterey in August.
Following the start of the Reunion on 12 August, the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance took place on 13 August. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering followed on 14 August.
Monterey Car Week concluded on 16 August with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
In total, more than 100,000 enthusiasts attended the events, bringing together people with a shared interest in automotive history, design and engineering.
Rolex's Motorsport Connections Stretch Back Almost 90 Years
The 25th anniversary of Rolex's involvement with the Monterey Motorsports Reunion forms part of a much longer relationship between the watchmaker and motorsport.
Rolex's connections with high-speed motoring extend back to the 1930s and Sir Malcolm Campbell's land-speed records.
The company has subsequently developed relationships with prominent racing drivers and major automotive events, combining contemporary motorsport connections with support for gatherings centred on historically important cars.
Rolex Testimonees including Kristensen and Webber continue that connection between the watchmaker and different generations of motorsport.
A Quarter-Century Partnership at Monterey
Rolex's involvement with the Monterey Motorsports Reunion has now reached 25 years, while its period as title sponsor stretches back to 2010.
The 2026 edition brought more than 400 historic cars to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and formed part of a Monterey Car Week programme attended by more than 100,000 enthusiasts.
For Rolex, the anniversary represents another milestone in a motorsport relationship stretching back almost nine decades, while the Reunion continues to bring historic racing cars and the people who preserve them together at Laguna Seca.
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