2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button will return to top level motorsport in 2024, competing in the top hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship.

Button will drive the Jota Porsche 963 on various tracks around the world in an eight race season, including returning to Le Mans, which he competed in as a one-off this year. The Brit turns 44 in January and next year will be his first full season of racing since winning the Super GT Series with Kunimitsu Honda in 2018. In 2024, he’ll share the car with fellow Brit Phil Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen.

The former McLaren driver will also race in the IMSA Sportscar Championship in late January for one race at the Daytona 24 Hours in Florida where he will drive the WTR Andretti Acura (Honda) GTP prototype.

Endurance racing has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent times, with teams not as restricted as their F1 counterparts when preparing the cars for racing. An historic win for Ferrari at Le Mans this year also drew eyes to the sport and the 2024 campaign will see the inclusion of Alpine, BMW and Lamborghini as they all begin their hypercar programmes.

Button isn’t the only former F1 star competing in the WEC next year with Mick Schumacher recently signing for Alpine, and Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kvyat included as part of Lamborghini’s lineup. There have also been rumours of a potential reunion between Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin in 2025 - the team who he last raced for in Formula One.

The 2024 FIA WEC season begins in Doha, Qatar on 1-2 March.

Words: Mike Booth
Picture: Lotus