Geneva, Wednesday – From 16 – 20 August, the Monterey Peninsula will transform into a motor sport enthusiast’s paradise, welcoming the world’s nest classic racing cars and automobiles for an array of concours, tours and auctions. This year two key gures from the world of motor sport will also be in attendance: three-time Formula One World ChampionTM Sir Jackie Stewart and nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, both of whom are Rolex Testimonees. The 2017 edition will be particularly special for Tom Kristensen, who will share his career experiences as the highlighted guest speaker during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
Looking ahead to the week, Danish racing legend Tom Kristensen said: “It will be a great privilege for me to be part of this magical sporting occasion. These events are very important in terms of keeping heritage at the forefront of our sport and with Rolex’s presence comes great prestige. Fans are provided with an opportunity to step back in time, while remembering how motor racing has developed. You see the history of the sport and re-live moments that happened before you were even born. The younger generation then see this, which in turn helps them to understand the Golden Era of motor sport and how the technology and design of cars has evolved”.
The appreciation for classic cars in California stems from the Pebble Beach Road Races and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, which from 1955 focused on the heritage of the automobile, presenting the top award to a vintage car, these days referred to as a “classic”. Over sixty years later this event has led to an even greater appreciation with a cionados now reliving the Golden Age of motor sport at the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance®, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, as well as at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Rolex has strong links with each of these events, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, given their shared values of tradition and innovation, which have shaped quality watchmaking as much as the automotive world.
Speaking of Rolex’s involvement, Sir Jackie Stewart said: “Rolex only partners the best events at the best venues and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Monterey Classic Car Week as a whole, are no exception. There is a special prize presented by Rolex every year at the Concours d’Elegance, which not only demonstrates how the brand rewards classic beauty and elegance but also underlines its commitment to motor sport more widely”.
PEBBLE BEACH TOUR D’ELEGANCE® PRESENTED BY ROLEX
THURSDAY 17 AUGUST 2017
For Rolex, the week begins on the morning of Thursday 17 August with the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® presented by Rolex. This highlight, introduced in 1998 and partnered by Rolex since 2007, showcases the elegance of the automobile in motion. More than 175 exceptional cars will line up on Portola Road to take part in the prestigious Tour before snaking their way along the picturesque coastal roads in and around Carmel-by-the-Sea.
ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION
THURSDAY 17 – SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is the largest event during the Monterey Classic Car Week and is staged at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the scene of America’s golden years of sports car racing since it opened in 1957. The event relives motor sport history with robust racing at the iconic and demanding circuit, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary. Rolex partnered the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, which took place at the same venue between 2001 and 2009, before becoming Title Sponsor of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in 2010.
This year’s Reunion honours the Diamond Jubilee of Formula Junior and will see 550 historic entries on the racecard over the four-day event. Another highlight fans can look forward to out on track will be former Formula OneTM driver Jenson Button getting behind the wheel of Emerson Fittipaldi’s 1974 World Championship-winning McLaren M23.
THE QUAIL, A MOTORSPORTS GATHERING
FRIDAY 18 AUGUST 2017
Rolex has been the Of cial Timepiece of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering since 2005. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Santa Lucia mountain range, this event combines sophistication with exquisite vintage sporting automobiles and a true culinary experience all in a garden-party setting on the rolling greens of the Quail Lodge & Golf Club.
This year’s display will have a special focus on sports and racing. Featured classes for 2017 will include Originals and Mid-Engine Marvels, along with traditional themes: Pre-War Sports and Racing Cars, Post-War Racing Cars, Post-War Sports Cars 1945–1960, Post-War Sports Cars 1961–1975, Sports and Racing Motorcycles, The Great Ferraris, Supercars and Custom Coachwork.
PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE®
SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017
Rolex has been the Of cial Timepiece of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and partner to The Lodge at Pebble Beach since 1997. The Concours, a contest of elegance rather than speed, marks the culmination of the week-long event. Judged for their historical accuracy, technical merit and style, two hundred of the most prized automobiles and motorcycles in the world roll onto the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links®, hoping to claim the Best of Show Trophy, the most coveted award amongst car collectors globally.
The 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® is set to feature the following marques and special classes among others: Isotta Fraschini, Castagna Coachwork, American Dream Cars of the 1960s, Ferrari Major Race Winners and Ferrari One-off Spéciales.