Button joins Le Mans classic grid for 2018

Jenson Button has added the 2018 Le Mans classic to his race programme for this year as he is set to drive a 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 prototype in the Group C race in July.

The 2009 Formula 1 world champion was officially confirmed as part of Honda’s Super GT driver line-up for this season with Team Kunimitsu, having taken a sabbatical from racing in 2017 with the exception of contesting the Monaco Grand Prix as Fernando Alonso’s stand-in, and the British driver will also make his Le Mans classic debut this year.

Button will drive a Jaguar XJR-9 which secured victory at the Daytona 24 hour race as well as successful in the 1988 World Sportscar championship winning seven out of 11 races including the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours to secure the world title along with Martin Brundle clinching the drivers’ crown.

The 2018 Le Mans classic is set to be hosted at the Circuit de la Sarthe on the 6-8 July three weeks after the first Le Mans 24 hour race of the 2018-19 World Endurance Championship super-season.

#JensonButton will be at the start of the Group C race! The former #F1 World Champion, who has never raced at the #LeMans24 or #LeMansClassic, will be at the wheel of a 1988 Jaguar XJR-9. #PeterAuto #Formula1 @JensonButton @Richard_Mille @24heuresdumans @Jaguar @JaguarRacing pic.twitter.com/H0sF5y9Dvw

— Le Mans Classic (@lemansclassic) January 12, 2018