Porsche 963 Hypercar drive for Jenson Button at Petit Le Mans

Jenson Button will return to top-level sports car racing in October when he races a Porsche 963 Hypercar at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

The 2009 Formula 1 world champion will share the customer 963 run by JDC-Miller Motorsports with Mike Rockenfeller – with whom he drove the ‘Garage 56’ NASCAR entry at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June – and rookie Tijmen van mer Helm.

“The Porsche 963, the IMSA SportsCar Championship and Road Atlanta are all brand new to me so I can’t wait to tackle all three with my team-mates,” said Button, who continues to fully embrace a post-Formula 1 life of racing variety. The 43-year-old recently made his third NASCAR Cup start on the Indianapolis road course, finishing a lowly 28th for Rick Ware Racing.

“While I’m having a lot of fun cutting my teeth in the NASCAR Cup series this year, a prototype with high downforce is definitely more in my comfort zone,” Button added.

The 15-time grand prix winner has been open about his ambitions to carry on racing deep into his forties, particularly in sports cars. In the wake of his F1 career, Button spent two years racing in Japan’s highly rated Super GT championship, winning the title in his second year. In 2018 he also raced an SMP Racing BR1 LMP1 at Le Mans and in further rounds of the World Endurance Championship.

Just to add to the Button menu, his Lotus Evija in 2009 Brawn GP colours was on display at the Monterey Car Week. Still a regular at grands prix as a member of the Sky F1 presenting team, he seems to be everywhere right now.

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Rennsport to cap Porsche 75th anniversary

Attention will focus again on Laguna Seca at the end of September as the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 offers dawn-to-dusk track action across four days. Porsche’s 75th anniversary celebrations will culminate at the annual Californian extravaganza, with more than 300 racing cars promised for the marque’s largest and most prominent gathering (September 28-October 1).

Eight classes spanning seven decades will feature, while the modern-era Porsche 963 Hypercar will make a special guest appearance.

Rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America will also be included on the schedule, as a host of Porsche racing stars and legends indulge in reunions with old flames.