Jenson Button will start the IMSA Series season finale as the third driver in the JDC-Miller Porsche 963, once again teaming up with Mike Rockenfeller
Jenson Button has been nominated by JDC-Miller for the Petit Le Mans (11-14 October) as the third driver of the Porsche customer team, alongside Tijmen van der Helm and Mike Rockenfeller. At the season finale of the IMSA series on the Road Atlanta race track, the Formula 1 world champion will compete for the first time in the LMDh car Porsche 963.
This means Button will once again be teammates with Rockenfeller, with whom he has previously worked on the NASCAR Le Mans project Garage 56 – and who was his rival last weekend at Button’s guest start in the NASCAR Cup at Indianapolis.
“I’m having a lot of fun in NASCAR Cup this year, but a high downforce prototype is definitely more in my comfort zone,” Button said. “But the Porsche 963, IMSA and Road Atlanta are all brand new to me, so I can’t wait to tackle the weekend with my teammates. “
Button: Rockenfeller “invaluable “
“I worked with Rocky at Le Mans this year and he’s going to be invaluable because he’s fantastic in developing the car and the team,” Button said of his teammate Rockenfeller. “He’s also incredibly quick, which is always helpful.
JDC-Miller is the first Porsche customer team in IMSA. After delays in the delivery of the Porsche 963, the Minnesota-based squad only entered the championship in May at the Laguna Seca race, but has since scored three top-five finishes.
“JDC-Miller MotorSports is honoured to confirm that Jenson will be competing in our Porsche 963 at the final race of the season at Road Atlanta,” said team principal John Church, who revealed that a start for Button was planned as early as late June.
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“The team had hoped he would join Rocky and Tijmen at Watkins Glen, but unfortunately that didn’t work out as the busy Jenson had some TV commitments,” said Church.
Despite Button’s lack of experience in an LMDh car, Church expects the Briton to find his feet quickly. “His performances speak for themselves. He and Rocky have come together in the extensive development of the Garage 56 Camaro. We’re confident he’ll quickly integrate into the team and get to grips with the 963.”
Button, who has only competed sporadically since 2020, had stated after his start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June that he wanted to contest a full racing season again next year – preferably in IMSA or the World Endurance Championship (WEC).