Yes, you read that headline right. In what will be one of the most unusual motorsports programs NASCAR super-team Hendrick Motorsports will run a Chevrolet Camaro NASCAR in the Le Mans 24-hours driven by former Formula One world champion Jenson Button.
The Brit, who won the 2009 F1 title, will share the unique Camaro with NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and former Le Mans winner, German Mike Rockenfeller. Button said driving the US muscle car at the French sports car race was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
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“When I finished my F1 career, I looked for new challenges and this is definitely an exciting challenge,” Button said last weekend in Daytona, where the trio were announced. “To work alongside these two drivers – as you can see already, there is some good banter. I think it just shows that teamwork we will need to go to Le Mans and perform as we would like. I'm very excited to work with this All-Star team and I think we can achieve something very special.”
The idea to race one of the new ‘Next Gen’ NASCARs at Le Mans is part of the sport’s 75th anniversary in 2023. It is entered in the ‘Garage 56’ class for experimental vehicles and features several modifications from the standard car that races in the NASCAR Cup series.
NASCAR chairman, Jim France, is happy to have secured such a formidable line-up to lead the very public celebration of his sport.
“The lineup 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,” France said. “As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, we are honored 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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