Le Mans Master Racer Tom Kristensen's Love for Rolex Daytona

Tom Kristensen wearing a Rolex Daytona

Tom Kristensen is a legend in endurance race car driving.  He grew up in a small Danish town.  His father was a race car driver and owned a gas station - passing on the tradition and love for cars to his son.  Kristensen started racing Go-Karts in the 1980's and won many titles.  He eventually graduated to Formula 3 and Touring Car races.  He won a Formula 3 race in Germany and another in Japan in the early 1990's.  In 1999 and 2000 he won the 12 Hours of Sebring race.  He has won Sebring 7 times.

Probably more than any other accolade, Kristensen is known for his exceptional results in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.  He was called in 1997 four days before the race to join the Le Mans team Joest Racing.  He helped them win the race.  This was his first Le Mans victory.  

Although the following two years he was unable to finish the race, he returned in 2000 with a vengeance.  Not only did he win the Le Mans in 2000, but he continued to win for 6 straight years.  He is one of only 3 racers in history to have won the Le Mans 3 times in a row, and he did it twice back to back.  

He won Le Mans again in 2008 and 2013 and came in 3rd 3 times, and 2nd twice.  However, his 9 victories in Le Mans is the best Le Mans record in the world.  His record has earned him the nickname "Mr. Le Mans".  

Rolex Daytona

It's no surprise that Kristensen chose the Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Daytona as his timepiece of choice.  This timepiece is born to race - introduced in 1963 and designed to meet the demands of professional racing drivers.  Rolex has been tied to racing since the 1910's and has been tied to Daytona, and Formula 1 for decades.

This 904L steel chronograph is designed to perfection.  The dial has detailed markings allowing drivers the ability to estimate speed from 60 to 400 units per hour.  It works equally well in miles or kilometers per hour.  Early models would only go to 200, but the Daytona evolved to support speeds up to 400 mph/kpm.  The pushers on the right side above and below the screw down crown give the drive the ability to accurately time laps.  One press starts, stops or resets the chronograph to perfection.

Recently the Daytona has undergone a full redesign - now equipped with the caliber 4130 - the reliability of this classic driver's tool has become even better.  The power reserve has been extended to 72 hours - up from 50 only a few years ago.  The pushers and crown screw down to provide waterproofness to 100 meters.

Kristensen chose the reference 116500LN which utilizes a black dial with its three inner dials utilizing a combination of white and black for easy legibility.  The 40 mm Oyster case is connected to an Oystersteel bracelet with an Easylink comfort extension link bracelet.  The Chromalight display on the dial provides long-lasting blue luminescence.  The new Chronograph Daytona is also a Superlative Chronometer - achieving COSC and Rolex certifications in exceptional timekeeping.