Jenson Button joins NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller in star 24 Hours of Le Mans team

Published 01/02/2023 at 09:50 GMT

“The line-up is everything we could have dreamed of,” said NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France, as he welcomed the arrival of former F1 world champion Jenson Button, NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and former champion Mike Rockenfeller into the series' special Le Mans roster. Stream the 24 Hours of Le Mans live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

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Jenson Button will join a legendary motorsport line-up at 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 100th anniversary of the classic endurance race in June.

The 2009 Formula 1 world champion is part of the Garage 56 project along with seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and 2010 overall Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller.

The Garage 56 entry will be a special Next-Gen NASCAR – a modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – in a collaboration involving the stock car series, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear.

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Button previously competed at Le Mans in 2018, but was part of a SMP Racing team that failed to finish after engine trouble.

“As a lifelong racing fan, I have always dreamed of racing certain cars, with and against certain drivers and competing in certain events,” said Button.

“In June, a number of those dreams will come true in one event when I get to bring NASCAR to the world stage alongside my pals Jimmie and ‘Rocky’ at the 100th running of the most prestigious race in the world.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing this journey with NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, and current and future NASCAR fans from around the world.”

Johnson, an 83-time Cup Series winner, retired from full-time NASCAR duty in 2020.

"I'm super thrilled – it's been at the top of my bucket list to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans someday," Johnson said.

"To have this opportunity come, and to partner with everybody and this driver line-up, is truly an incredible opportunity and one that I am thankful to be a part of."

Rockenfeller, who also claimed a Le Mans class victory in 2005, has been the primary tester and driven the special car at every on-track test. This year's event will mark his 11th appearance at Le Mans.

“It has been a great journey so far with the whole team and project,” Rockenfeller said. “To be involved as a driver from day one until now was already a great honour, and to now have Jimmie and Jenson alongside me as team-mates in Le Mans is unbelievable.”

Jenson Button (R) talks with Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller and Jordan Taylor during the NASCAR Project 56 Test

Image credit: Getty Images

Le Mans takes place on June 10-11.

“Since the beginning of the Garage 56 project, it has been our goal to partner with the top racers in the world to represent us in Le Mans,” said Jim France, NASCAR chairman and CEO.

“The line-up of Jimmie, ‘Rocky’ and Jenson is everything we could have dreamed of — three elite drivers who have won at the highest levels of motorsports worldwide.

“As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, we are honoured to have these world-class champions help bring the sights and sounds of a NASCAR race car to fans in Le Mans, and across the world.”

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Stream the 24 Hours of Le Mans live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

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