Button teams up with all-star line-up for Le Mans NASCAR entry

Jenson Button will form part of an all-star line-up getting behind the wheel of a NASCAR challenger at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Button joins former Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller and NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson in the Garage 56 squad, with the team set to run an experimental Next Gen Camaro Cup car.

While entries in the slot are not able to compete for victory, Button is looking forward to taking part in the centenary running of Le Mans.

"[I'm] very excited to work with this All-Stars team, and I think we can achieve something very special," the 2009 F1 World Champion was quoted by Motor Sport Magazine.

Button went on to joke about the announcement: "This is a total surprise – I was on the way to Disneyland and took the wrong road."

The entry is a collaboration between Chevrolet, NASCAR, IMSA, Hendrick Motorsports and Goodyear, with the aim being to put NASCAR on the "global stage".

Button returns to Le Mans

This will not be Button's first attempt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Briton – who took part in his final Formula 1 race in 2017 – previously competed in the event in 2018 in the LMP1 class, but the team were forced to retire the car in the latter stages due to mechanical issues.

Button had previously spoken of his hopes of racing in the 2023 running of Le Mans.

"Before I went there, I thought Formula 1 was the pinnacle. But Le Mans is such a special race," he said at the NASCAR announcement.

"It's such a big team event. We all have to work together to perform and to get a result out of it."

The 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place on 10-11 June.