DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Three-time Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Christian Fittipaldi will serve as Grand Marshal for the 58th Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
Fittipaldi will deliver the command to start the engines to kick off North America’s most prestigious sports car race and the season-opening event to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“I was quite surprised and extremely honored to be invited to take on the Grand Marshal duties at this year’s Rolex 24,” Fittipaldi said. “I’m definitely looking forward to it. I think it’s really cool to have this opportunity so quickly after I stopped racing.”
Over his nearly four decades of racing, Fittipaldi, a native of Brazil, competed in many forms of motorsports including NASCAR, open wheel and sports car. He retired from competition following the 2019 Rolex 24 with 12 IMSA victories, two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship titles and four IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup titles.
At Daytona Int’l Speedway, Fittipaldi claimed three Rolex 24 overall victories (2004, ’14 and ’18) as well as two runner-up finishes.
“With his successes on the track and his magnetic personality off the track, Christian has attracted legions of fans during his storied career,” Daytona Int’l Speedway President Chip Wile said. “He has enjoyed many of his biggest triumphs right here at Daytona Int’l Speedway and we’re honored to have him preside as the Grand Marshal and deliver the starting command for the Rolex 24.”