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Ex-F1 Champion Jenson Button Returns to Full WEC Season with Jota Sport

Ex-F1 Champion Jenson Button Returns to Full WEC Season with Jota Sport

Former Formula One World Champion Jenson Button completes the Hertz Team Jota 2024 Hypercar line-up, marking his return to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the outfit announced on Friday.

The 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has joined Hertz Team Jota, committing to a full-time 2024 campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar class.

The 43-year-old Briton will share driving duties with teammates Phil Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen at the wheel of the #38 Porsche 963 Hypercar.

I’m excited to be racing with Hertz Team JOTA in the 2024 World Endurance Championship alongside my teammates Oliver Rasmussen and Phil Hanson. Both already have a lot of experience in endurance racing, and that is key,” he outlined.

Endurance racing is about teamwork, and there is no better team than Hertz Team JOTA to be taking on the big manufacturers in Hypercars.

I’m already looking forward to the first race in Qatar, but I also know there’s a lot of work to be done so that we arrive prepared.”

Watch a message from Button himself:

@JotaSport @Hertz pic.twitter.com/ze0tRH2FLy

— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) December 15, 2023

The 2024 World Endurance Championship will start in Doha, Qatar, early in March at Lusail International Circuit, the first round of an eight-race calendar.

Frederic Lequien, FIA WEC CEO, commented: “It’s an honor to have Jenson Button – a hugely successful driver across many racing disciplines – competing full-time in the WEC next year. With nine manufacturers in the Hypercar category next year, including star names such as Jenson confirmed on the grid, everything is now in place for the WEC to have its most spectacular season yet.”

Button last drove in the series in 2018 (LMP1 era). Next year, he will race in the Hypercar category, featuring a record 19 entries.

Last October, he took part in the 26th running of Petit Le Mans behind the wheel of JDC-Miller MotorSports’ Porsche 963, finishing 5th overall.

Earlier this season, the 15-time Grand Prix winner joined seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller as part of the NASCAR Garage 56 entry, competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The second Jota Porsche entry will see Will Stevens, Callum Illot, and Norman Nato sharing the cockpit of the #12 Hypercar.

Learn more about the Jota Sport #12 driver line-up here.

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