Photo: Rolex/Stephan Cooper
If there is one summer bucket list destination for motoring enthusiasts, it would have to be the Monterey Peninsula in California, USA. At this breathtaking coastal location, owners of the most stunning classic cars gather annually during Monterey Car Week, the grandest celebration of the machines of yesteryear and the innovations of tomorrow.
Rolex Testimonee Sir Jackie Stewart at the 2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. (Photo: Rolex/Stephan Cooper)
A Rolex legend for more than 55 years, Sir Jackie continues to be exhilarated by this event: “I first drove at Laguna Seca in the 1960s and have a lot of happy memories there, and today, it remains one of the world’s most remarkable racetracks. Since my retirement, I have visited the Reunion on many occasions, and it is an honour to witness the incredible racing cars compete as they were built to — they truly tell the story of our sport’s evolution.”
Rolex’s enduring involvement has made it all the more special for the British racing stalwart, as he elaborates, “The highest standards of precision and engineering on show throughout the four-day event link Rolex and the Reunion, underlining Rolex’s commitment to motorsport globally.”
Historic racing at the 40th anniversary of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. (Photo: Rolex/Stephan Cooper)
Sir Jackie’s fellow Rolex Testimonees have followed in his tracks and taken on this undulating and challenging circuit. They included Australian former motorsport champion Mark Webber, who participated in the FIA GT Championship in 1998, placing second overall in the GT1 class, as well as Danish endurance racing great Tom Kristensen, a nine-time winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans, who served as Grand Marshal of the 2022 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
More recently, the hallowed course has witnessed 2009 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion Jenson Button take to the wheel of notable sports cars at the Reunion. Female racing driver Jamie Chadwick also competed at the famous circuit in 2023 and returned to this event this summer in the Indy NXT series.
Rolex Testimonee Jamie Chadwick racing in the 2023 Indy NXT Series at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca. (Photo: Ignite Media)
Spirit of excellence
The 50th anniversary of the Reunion, established in 1974, was a veritable recognition of the achievements of the sport’s heroes, their machines, and shared memories. Rolex first partnered the event in 2001 and became the Title Sponsor in 2010.
In addition to the Reunion, Rolex has also been a strong supporter of the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance are all held during Monterey Car Week.
Rolex Testimonee and 2022 Grand Marshal Tom Kristensen waves the green flag. (Photo: Rolex/Stephan Cooper)
And Kristensen has been more than impressed by his experiences so far: “It is a tapestry of superior car events that are all so different but fit so well together. They bring together racing cars, vintage automobiles, innovative concepts, style and tradition. What unites these events is the commitment of the owners who aspire to restore or maintain their car’s immaculate condition, displaying its quality, beauty and prestige.”
Rolex Testimonee Jensen Button in Monterey, California. (Photo: Rolex/Tom O’Neal)
Manoeuvring a glorious classic car was a delightful experience for the decorated British professional racer, who adds, “These events are a wonderful step back in time; it’s amazing to see how far the technology has come. At the Reunion, you see people pushing cars from across the decades to the limit. As a racing driver, the high-speed nature of this event really stands out for me. There’s also a strong feeling of nostalgia, with everyone coming together to celebrate motorsport’s Golden Age.”
