The 2010 return of Rolex 24 At Daytona is scheduled for January 30-31 which will mark the 48^th anniversary for the event. The winner of the 2009 Driver Challenge, Derek Johnston has already earned himself a driver’s seat in America’s most esteemed sports car race. Derek Johnston who won the Radical UK Cup ousted Rob Garofall who had won SPEED in order to win the spot. The 2009 Driver Challenge had edge-of-the-seat action and kept fans engrossed as the winners were not established until the final week.

The 2010 season winner’s prize will be a driver’s seat in the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona. 2009 was witness to drivers competing in the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series, the Avon Tyres British GT Championship, the Radical UK Cup and the SPEED sports prototype series, all for a driver’s seat in the 2010 Rolex event. The event has turned out to be the biggest and most prestigious prize for all of British Motorsport, as throughout the year of 2009 the drivers were seen accumulating points for not only their pole positions, race results but also the fastest lap just in order to get the much coveted driver’s seat in a Daytona Prototype in 2010. The Rolex 24 At Daytona is presented by Sunoco. It is a Driver Challenge bringing out the best talent from the Sunoco-fuelled race series that takes place in Europe and the United Kingdom.

All of Rolex sponsored events in the sports car racing category have earned themselves extremely prestigious tags as they not only bring out the best from the drivers but also present a platform for a world-class competition. With points being given for pole positions, fastest lap, etc. the focus is shifted from just winning the race towards maintaining consistent and excellent performance. All the drivers are ecstatic and looking forward to the races, especially Derek Johnston, as he is scheduled to test at the Daytona International Speedway in early January before he goes ahead and competes in the Rolex 24 Driver Challenge. The Rolex 24 At Daytona will be a season-opening race for the Grand-Am Rolex Series and will also mark the opening of the international motorsports calendar.

Previously the Rolex 24 Driver Challenge has been extremely popular in the U.S., however, its success and association with Sunoco has increased its popularity throughout Europe as well. The unique prize of a driver’s seat that the Driver Challenge carries has been successful in generating more interest and excitement about the Rolex 24 At Daytona and is touted to grow even more in 2010. Rolex always aims at making its events truly world-class and thus tries it’s best to engage sportsmen from all over the world. With gaining popularity across Europe and with its strong hold in the US, Rolex is well on its way towards making this sports car race series a world renowned event that will prove to be a universal platform for racers across the continents. With world talents competing on a single platform, the aim and vision that Rolex has to promote human brilliance looks all the more achievable.

A passion that rises from mastering the drivability of the incredibly fast vehicles moves the entire sea of spectators to the rhythm of speed and focus. Rolex the celebrated Swiss brand of luxury watches has been partnering world class sporting events like motor sport racing around the world. Associating with the American organization to revive the motor sport racing in the United States, Rolex collaborated to form the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Over the year the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series has grown exponentially both in size and scope, resurrecting the faltering motor sport racing industry. Now regarded as one of the most prestigious racing events in America, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series draws incredible talent from around the world. This prestigious racing series is divided into two parts and features a total of 12 races. Performance in all of these races adds to the total tally and influences the standings of the race car driver as well as the various teams. The rise in the number of spectators along with the increased media coverage was possible only due to the unhindered support of Rolex as the principal partner. The 2009 edition of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 saw a spectacular display of talent and racing skills at the racing circuit.

The second half of the season will begin on Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway as throngs of people start to congregate at the circuit. Even though Chip Ganassi Racing team had a slow start in the first half of the season, the champion drivers Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas drove the Daytona Prototypes to lead the rankings with an 11 point lead over the others. Taking the lead by winning their first race at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen that was held at the Watkins Glen International in the beginning of July, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas proved their ability by out rightly winning the EMCO Gears Classic that was held two weeks later at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Highly competitive rivals Scott Pruett and Alex Gurney had one of the closest races last season at the Brumos Porsche 250 and ended in a spectacular photo finish.

In this extremely competitive season apart from the drenched race at the Verizon Wireless 250, five of the six races finished before 10 seconds. An incredible four out of the total six Daytona Prototype finishes have been under a second. Even the grueling Rolex 24 races saw this level of competition with a record four cars finishing the final lap. Memo Rojas with 2 wins and Scott Pruett with one account for half of the total wins in the first half of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. The high level of competition and skill at the racing event has led to increased display of incredible talent and has led to many alterations in the statistical log of the races. In the constructors category Porsche is leading the pack with a total of 60 wins, 76 poles and 248 podiums.

With such incredible numbers hitting the circuit every time this edition of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series promises to be a riveting event. As the second half of the prestigious season hits the tracks this Saturday, spectators are already anticipating some brilliant maneuvers and exceptional drivability that is bound to once again change the history of motor racing.

Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey is fielding his own Grand-Am series racing team this year in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Following in the footsteps of the late Paul Newman, Hollywood heartthrob Patrick Dempsey has become an actor turned sports car racer by acquiring the team formally known as Hyper Sport. The Grand-Am team will compete against the finest drivers in the world in the No. 16 under the Dempsey Racing banner.

Although Dempsey attempted to compete in the race last year, he had a frightening mishap exiting pit road during the trials. Dempsey is prepared, however, for the challenges this time around, as he explains: “”Last year, I didn’t really have an understanding. Certainly, getting out the pits was my first realization. Every time I go out, I’m much slower and careful.” In his second trip, Dempsey feels like he is making progress on the twist and turns of the 3.56-mile road course: “I’m really pleased with this morning and where I was last year and where I am this year,” Dempsey said. “I hope that continues on.”

In the race, Dempsey has teamed up with the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer, and he will be promoting breast cancer awareness. The Dempsey Racing team will add a touch of pink to the Rolex 24 by adding a swathe of bright pink down the centre of the car as it competes in the GT class of the Grand-Am Rolex Series opener. When asked about the pink swathe in such a manly sport, Dempsey laughed:  “Real men can wear pink. All of us at Dempsey Racing are proud to partner with the Avon Foundation in its fight against breast cancer. I am so proud to support the cause, which raises funds that directly save lives,” Dempsey continued, “While two very different types of endurance events, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and sports car racing have the common tie of the mental and physical stamina required to achieve success.

With that juxtaposition in mind, a special contest for top fundraisers of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer will be unveiled during the Rolex 24.” Like Rolex, the sponsor of the 24-hour racing event, Patrick Dempsey has showed himself to be nothing less than a class act. By carrying on the tradition of Paul Newman, Patrick Dempsey manages to connect the Grand-Am Rolex Series with philanthropy, doing his best to help others as he pursues his car racing dreams.

Racing superstar Danica Patrick has joined a long list of motorsports superstars that have signed up to compete in the 47th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 24-25, 2009. The grueling 24-hour race demands the very best from the competitors if they are not only trying to win, but also even finish. As a trailblazer, Danica Patrick last season became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race. Although she failed to finish the Rolex 24 in 2006, she is back after taking a year off and ready to go for the blue ribbon. With natural talent and instinctive daring, Danica has the inner qualities necessary to win. If only Danica had a Rolex on her wrist before the race, she might see how the precision timepiece reflects the qualities she tries to achieve on the speedway.

If Danica Patrick could be given a lead on a Rolex watch to acquire, which Rolex ladies watch should she get to aid her in her cause? Although many of the professional men’s Rolex watches like the GMT Master II or the Daytona would do just fine, Danica needs a watch that reflects her style and class both on the raceway and on the red carpet. Melrose Jewelers happens to have a watch in stock that would meet Danica’s needs. The Ladies 2T Rolex Datejust is a spectacular watch showcasing the stunning Submariner Blue Diamond Dial. Its Oyster bracelet offers a modern appearance and is quite eye-catching with the combination of glossy Stainless Steel and 18k Yellow Gold, reflecting Danica’s balance between professional sports and fashion.  Lastly, the .7ct Beadset Diamond Bezel set in 18k White Gold surrounds the magnificent dial and adds to the already glamorous appearance of this masterpiece. Such an incredible watch matches the blue colors of racing while offering the professional perfection of a Rolex. With the added diamond, it provides the glamour that a star like Danica Patrick not only needs, but also demands.

Danica competed in the Rolex 24 in 2006, but the team finished 50th after a mechanical breakdown. “I had such a good time,� said Patrick of her 2006 Rolex 24 start. “So many drivers come together for this event. Of course everyone wants to win and do well. But there’s such camaraderie at this. I’m just really grateful to come back to this team again. To be with a group of drivers like this, we have a great chance at winning this race.� Danica Patrick, who races with Andretti-Green Racing in the IndyCar Series, will spend this weekend’s test getting familiar with the Daytona Prototype again. She has plenty of memories from her lone 2006 start.

“There wasn’t a ton of running so it was hard to get a real feel of how the rhythm of the race goes and how it goes through the night and into the next day,� Danica said of her 2006 Rolex 24 experience, which cut short due to mechanical failures. “I’ll definitely be asking questions as we go along about that. I remember what it feels in the car and how it was around here and I think that will be able to carry over but also the car has improved too.� Hopefully, both the racing car and Danica’s team have improved because she deserves the opportunity to win the Rolex 24 and receive a Rolex watch as the prize for such a victory. Danica Patrick is a class act, and she would look perfect with a Rolex on her wrist.