Jenson Button’s Exciting Return to Motorsport: Joining World Endurance Championship 2024

Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has announced his much-anticipated return to competitive racing. He’s set to join the World Endurance Championship in 2024, driving JOTA’s Porsche hypercar, a move that reflects his undiminished passion and readiness for a new chapter in his illustrious career.

Key Takeaways

• Jenson Button’s Racing Comeback: Button, who retired from Formula 1 in 2016, is making a significant return to motorsport. He will compete in the hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship, driving the Jota Porsche 963.
• Extensive Racing Background: With an impressive Formula 1 history of 306 races over 18 years and various guest appearances in motorsports, Button’s experience is expected to be invaluable in his 2024 campaign.
• A Revived Sportscar Racing Scene: Button’s return coincides with a resurgence in sportscar racing, marked by the participation of major manufacturers and the introduction of new rules promoting diverse performance approaches.

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 champion, has chosen a thrilling new venture in the world of motorsport. Teaming up with JOTA, he is set to pilot a Porsche hypercar in the upcoming season of the World Endurance Championship. His return is a testament to his ongoing passion for racing, with Button affirming, “I’m a better person when I’m racing.”

Button’s move into the LMDH [Le Mans Daytona hybrid] hypercars is a challenge he relishes, noting the complexity of the technology: “LMDH [hypercars] have 38 pages of just what the steering wheel does; there so many switches… so many different things for the same issue. There’s a lot to learn – it’s a staggering amount of stuff and it blows your mind and takes a while to get used to.”

His career in Formula 1 is nothing short of legendary. Over 18 seasons, he participated in 306 Grands Prix, leaving a significant mark in the history of the sport. Post-retirement in 2016, Button remained close to racing, making guest appearances in various classes, including a stint at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last season. Now, at 43, soon to be 44, Button is geared up for a full season in motorsport – a first since his F1 days.

The World Endurance Championship is witnessing a significant revival, with major car manufacturers like Porsche, Ferrari, Cadillac, and Peugeot rejuvenating the series. Button’s entry into the 2024 season is timely, aligning with the arrival of new participants like Alpine, BMW, and Lamborghini, and the future addition of Aston Martin in 2025.

As Button prepares for his first race in the 2024 FIA WEC season, starting in Doha, Qatar, from March 1-2, his enthusiasm is palpable. He is also planning to participate in the American IMSA Sportscar Championship, racing in the Daytona 24 Hours in Florida for WTR Andretti Acura. Button’s excitement about his return is evident as he states, “I’m thrilled to be racing in the 2024 World Endurance Championship. I’m already looking forward to the first race, but also know there’s a lot of work to be done so that we arrive prepared.”