Image: Kevin Dejewski
Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button would “jump at the chance” to race a Hypercar at Le Mans in the future, he told reporters at Daytona.
On Saturday, hours before the start of the Daytona 24 Hours, Button was surprisingly announced as one of the three drivers who will race the Garage 56 NASCAR project at this years 24 Hours of Le Mans.
MotorsportWeek.com asked the former McLaren driver whether he’d be interested in racing a Hypercar at Le Mans in the future. “This is my first time back [at Le Mans] since 2018, and I’m really looking forward to it,” he began in response.
He continued, “Possibly in the future, if there’s the the right situation, I would jump at the chance to jump in an LMH or LMDh.”
Button will race the Chevrolet Camaro next-gen NASCAR alongside former NASCAR driver and 7-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, and Mike Rockenfeller, who Le Mans in 2010 for Audi. He told reporters he got involved with the project through Johnson.
“It was actually through Jimme, a long time ago. I was just asking jimmy what he’s up to in 2023, because this guy can’t sit still. He said, ‘i’m hoping to to bring NASCAR to Le Mans.’ And I’m like, ‘sorry. What?’,” Button said.
He added: “And yeah, it started there. Then I got in touch with with Rocky [Rockenfeller] and he said, we’re testing out in Sebring, come and check out what we’re doing and see if it’s something that would would interest you. Then I spoke to John [Doonan, the team principal] and it all started from there.
“i haven’t driven the car yet. But I was at the test in Sebring, watching and listening to all the information that the drivers were feeding back about the car, and the big steps forward that they were making with it.”
Finally, Rockenfeller, a veteran sportscar driver and a popular figure in endurance racing, also hinted he’d be interested in racing a Hypercar in future. “Yeah, I think the year after, we are all together in the top category. We start with Garage 56, then the next year we will all be there,” the German joked.
Speaking seriously, he continued, “Of course, it’s a great era. For me Le Mans is really one of the biggest races in the world. To be there and fight for overall victory – I think every driver wants to do that. But this year, for sure, for us, it’s a little different. We won’t be able to, but we will, for sure. See the cars and and watch it closely.”
Keyword: Button would “jump at the chance to race LMH/LMDh” at Le Mans