One among his selections is known to be racing a second Jota Porsche 963 in WEC competitors in 2024, with Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica additionally within the body for drives on the Hertz-backed crew.
Button is making his IMSA GTP debut this weekend in JDC Miller MotorSports’ Porsche 963, alongside Mike Rockenfeller and Tijmen van der Helm.
Though this weekend’s one-off deal happened after talks prompted by Rockenfeller and IMSA boss John Doonan, it’s additionally been considered as a toe-in-the-water train forward of subsequent season. He additionally confirmed that this weekend is the one operating he has deliberate with JDC.
“I actually don’t know, I’ve a few choices in IMSA to do a full season and to do enduros, I even have a few choices to do WEC,” stated Button when requested about his future on Thursday. “To begin with, I have to see if I get pleasure from this race weekend, and I believe I’ll, and I’ve obtained a cross from the spouse, in order that’s one other vital factor!”
Jenson Button, Rick Ware Racing, Mobil 1 Ford Mustang
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Button is eager to race extra in 2024 after three appearances in NASCAR Cup highway races and participating within the Le Mans 24 Hours with the Hendrick-Chevrolet Storage 56 challenge.
“I’m in a really completely different a part of my life now, I’ve two children, and I don’t wish to be away from my household an excessive amount of,” he stated. “However I believe I’m a greater dad once I’m racing, and my spouse says the identical factor.
“I will probably be racing one thing subsequent 12 months, it simply relies upon the place and the way a lot I do.”
Button says his race weekend thus far has been about adjusting to the LMDh automobile, which is the primary prototype he’s pushed because the SMP Racing LMP1 challenge in 2018.
“The issue is that each one I’ve pushed this 12 months is NASCAR, the Cup automobile and Storage 56 at Le Mans,” he added. “And also you’re making massive actions with the steering wheel, which you’ll be able to’t do in a excessive downforce automobile, as a result of as quickly as you get lateral load you lose all the pieces.
“You must be extremely exact in these vehicles, however I’d heard drivers saying Positive and unfavourable issues about them, so I used to be just a little bit sceptical, however after driving it for a day, it’s only a racing automobile with downforce. You’re going to not like some issues however like different issues.
“It locks up while you’re going gradual as a result of these vehicles don’t have mechanical grip, so that you’re at all times combating for that since you’ve obtained the automobile as little as you’ll be able to to make the downforce work. If you happen to put the automobile within the air, it turns into softer, and also you’ll fly within the low-speed however you’ll be ineffective within the high-speed stuff.
“It’s the identical with any racing automobile with downforce, which is nice, so I do know what I’m doing.”
#5 JDC Miller MotorSports Porsche 963: Tijmen van der Helm, Mike Rockenfeller, Jenson Button
Picture by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images
Button has had no points thus far with {the electrical} hybrid system within the Porsche, which has added an additional dimension to IMSA’s premier class competitors this season.
“I wouldn’t even comprehend it has a hybrid, there’s not been a second the place it hasn’t labored as anticipated, so it’s very completely different from once we had just a little lever once I raced one in F1,” he stated. “There’s by no means moments the place I get push underneath braking when it’s harvesting, it’s been very constant.
“The one factor that does take plenty of getting used to is that these vehicles have so many issues that you could change. For me, simply leaping in it, I’d say there’s too many issues that I might change!
“I stated to the blokes, simply give me the easy issues that may give me the most important profit by way of altering. The fantastic element is rarely going to be crucial for me proper now. I’ll discover that out within the race. However there are such a lot of issues a driver can change, the motive force handbook is 58 or 60 pages. Studying that, while you’ve by no means pushed the automobile, is kind of tough!
“There’s lots to play with, and it’s thrilling to place the trouble in and make a distinction.”