Jenson Button has joined JDC-Miller MotorSports team to drive the Porsche 963 GTP in his debut in Petit LeMans series.
JDC-Miller MotorSports confirmed today that 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will be joining Tijmen van der Helm and Mike Rockenfeller in the team’s Porsche 963 GTP for the season finale Motul Petit LeMans on Oct. 11-14.
Originally from England, the 43 year old now calls Los Angeles home. As a 19 year old, he started his Formula One career in 2000 with Williams F1. Over the next 18 years he drove for F1 teams Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda and McLaren ending his active Formula One career after the 2017 season. Jenson won the Formula One Championship with Brawn GP in 2009, and scored 15 wins, 50 podiums, 8 pole positions as well as 8 fastest laps during his Formula One career.
He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing with support from Stewart-Haas Racing and sponsorship from Mobil 1. At JDC-Miller MotorSports he will be reunited with Mike Rockenfeller, with whom he shared driving duties at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside NASCAR Champion Jimmy Johnson. The trio drove a Hendrick Motorsports entered NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as the Garage 56 entry and were a fan favorite.
JDC-Miller MotorSports started its 2023 season with the Porsche 963 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on May 12-14. After coming home 7th in their first race, the team has scored three top five finishes, with season high 4th place finishes at Watkins Glen and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and a strong 5th at Road America.
Jenson Button, No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963: “I’m very excited to announce that I will be racing at Petit Le Mans this year with 2021 Sebring winners JDC-Miller MotorSports. Whilst I’m having a lot of fun cutting my teeth in the NASCAR Cup series this year, a prototype with high downforce is definitely more in my comfort zone! That said, the Porsche 963, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, and Road Atlanta are all brand new to me so I can’t wait to tackle all three with my teammates for the weekend. I partnered with Rocky at Le Mans this year and he will be invaluable as he’s fantastic at car/team development. He is also incredibly quick which always helps! I’ll also have the pleasure of working with rookie Tijmen van der Helm who seems to really be gaining speed and confidence through the season so we should have a lot of fun.”
John Church, Managing Partner, JDC-Miller MotorSports: “JDC-Miller MotorSports is honored to confirm that Jenson will be joining us for the final race of the season in our Porsche 963 at Road Atlanta. The team had hoped to have him join Rocky and Tijmen at Watkins Glen but unfortunately that did not work out as the very busy Jenson had some TV commitments. His accomplishments speak for themselves. He and Rocky bonded through the extensive development of the Garage 56 Camaro. We are confident he will quickly integrate with the team and get up to speed with the 963.”
Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO Porsche Motorsport North America: “Having Jenson join JDC-Miller MotorSports is a testimony to the program John Church, John Miller and the entire team has assembled. It also speaks to the high level of competition and interest in the IMSA GTP class. Rocky and Tijmen have proven how successful a privateer can be with the Porsche 963. The addition of Jenson should bring even greater success.”
[Note: The story is as per press release]
