The driver lineup for the modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Next Gen NASCAR race car headed to this 12 months’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was confirmed on Saturday through the 24 Hours of Daytona.
The three drivers confirmed have been Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button, and Mike Rockenfeller.
Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, was broadly rumored to be among the many drivers for the NASCAR Le Mans program for the reason that Next Gen racer shall be fielded by his former group, Hendrick Motorsports. It shall be fielded in Le Mans’ single-vehicle Garage 56 class designed for experimental automobiles.
Johnson, who switched from NASCAR to IndyCar after the 2020 season, introduced his retirement from full-time racing final September, however a month later got here out with the announcement he would return to NASCAR on a restricted schedule for 2023 as a driver and part-owner of Petty GMS.
Button is an ex-Formula 1 driver who received the title in 2009 driving for Brawn GP. He beforehand raced at Le Mans in 2018, sharing driving duties in an SMP Racing entry that retired early with engine failure. He’s additionally competed extensively in Japan’s Super GT touring automobile collection.
Rockenfeller is probably the most skilled of the three drivers when it comes to Le Mans, and in consequence he’s been the first driver throughout testing of the Next Gen race car modified for the French traditional. He received the race outright in 2010 driving for Audi, and took residence a win within the GT2 class in 2005 driving for Porsche. (*56*) 12 months’s race would be the eleventh of his profession.
Outside of Le Mans, Rockenfeller made his NASCAR Cup Series debut final 12 months, becoming a member of Spire Motorsports for appearances at Watkins Glen International and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s highway course.
(*56*) 12 months’s Le Mans race is scheduled for the weekend beginning Jun. 10. The occasion, which shall be celebrating its one centesimal anniversary, is the spotlight of the World Endurance Championship calendar and this 12 months will see new LMDh vehicles go up towards LMH vehicles within the premier Hypercar class.
(*56*) article was initially printed by Motor Authority, an editorial associate of ClassicCars.com.
