The motive force lineup for the modified Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Subsequent Gen NASCAR race automotive 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 extensively rumored to be among the many drivers for the NASCAR Le Mans program because the Subsequent Gen racer will probably be fielded by his former group, Hendrick Motorsports. Will probably be fielded in Le Mans’ single-vehicle Storage 56 class designed for experimental autos.
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-Formulation 1 driver who gained 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 is additionally competed extensively in Japan’s Tremendous GT touring automotive sequence.
Rockenfeller is essentially the most skilled of the three drivers relating to Le Mans, and in consequence he is been the first driver throughout testing of the Subsequent Gen race automotive modified for the French traditional. He gained the race outright in 2010 driving for Audi, and took dwelling a win within the GT2 class in 2005 driving for Porsche. This 12 months’s race would be the eleventh of his profession.
Exterior of Le Mans, Rockenfeller made his NASCAR Cup Sequence debut final 12 months, becoming a member of Spire Motorsports for appearances at Watkins Glen Worldwide and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s street course.
This 12 months’s Le Mans race is scheduled for the weekend beginning Jun. 10. The occasion, which will probably be celebrating its one hundredth anniversary, is the spotlight of the World Endurance Championship calendar and this 12 months will see new LMDh automobiles go up towards LMH automobiles within the premier Hypercar class.