F1 World Champion announces racing return in latest series debut

Jamie Woodhouse 20 Aug 2023 8:39 AM

2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button will get stuck into another new racing category for him as he prepares to make his IMSA Sportscar Championship debut.

Since his final Formula 1 appearance with McLaren back in 2017, Button has turned his hand to various other series, the likes of Super GT, the World Endurance Championship and DTM all on the list.

More recently, Button has taken his first steps into the world of NASCAR, his Cup Series debut taking place at the Circuit of The Americas where fellow F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, who achieved that honour in 2007, was also in the field.

IMSA Sportscar Championship next Jenson Button battleground

Now, Williams F1’s senior advisor Button has a fresh racing challenge on the horizon after confirming he will contest the final round of the 2023 IMSA season, the Petit Le Mans, competing for JDC. The team’s most recent victory came in 2021 at Sebring.

Mike Rockenfeller and Tijmen van der Helm will be Button’s team-mates for the event, held on October 14 at the Road Atlanta circuit.

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“I’m very excited to announce that I will be racing at Petit Le Mans this year with 2021 Sebring winners JDC,” Button confirmed in a social media post.

“Whilst I’m having a lot of fun cutting my teeth in NASCAR this year, a prototype with high downforce is definitely more my comfort zone!

“That said the 963, the IMSA Championship and the Road Atlanta track are all brand new to me so I can’t wait to tackle all three with my team-mates for the weekend.

“Rocky I partnered with at Le Mans this year and he will be invaluable as he’s fantastic at car/team development and also incredibly quick which always helps!

“I’ll also have the pleasure of working with rookie Tijmen van der Helm who seems to really be gaining speed and confidence through the IMSA season so we should have a lot of fun.”

Button’s IMSA debut takes place on a free weekend for Formula 1, with that October 14 date falling between the Qatar and United States rounds on the F1 2023 calendar.