2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has been announced as the latest driver to take on the challenge of the FIA World Endurance Championship and top tier sports prototype racing.
The British driver will race for the full Super Season (except except for the TOTAL 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2018 which clashes with the second round of the Super GT Series) for SMP Racing in the LMP1 category alongside Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov and against a strong field which includes fellow F1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso.
Button will make his debut in the BR Engineering BR1-AER at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and will combine his WEC commitments with the Super GT Series in Japan.
Although he did take part in the 1999 Spa 24 Hours, this will be the first season of endurance racing for the very popular driver.
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “As has been demonstrated over many decades, the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains one of the great motorsport challenges that World Champions wish to conquer. We are delighted to welcome Jenson Button to the WEC and to Le Mans in particular and are sure that his presence will be extremely popular with fans across the world.”
Gérard Neveu, CEO of the WEC said: “This is very good news for all motorsport fans, especially those in the UK who will see Jenson at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in August. To welcome a champion of his standing and reputation is great for the whole WEC paddock.”
