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One in all his selections is known to be racing a second Jota Porsche 963 in WEC competitors in 2024, with Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica additionally within the body for drives on the Hertz-backed group.
Button is making his IMSA GTP debut this weekend in JDC Miller MotorSports’ Porsche 963, alongside Mike Rockenfeller and Tijmen van der Helm, at Street Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans IMSA finale.
Though this one-off deal took place after talks prompted by Rockenfeller and IMSA boss John Doonan, it’s additionally been seen as a toe-in-the-water train forward of subsequent season. He additionally confirmed that this weekend is the one operating he has deliberate with JDC.
“I actually don’t know, I’ve a few choices in IMSA to do a full season and to do enduros, I even have a few choices to do WEC,” mentioned Button when requested about his future on Thursday.
“Initially, I must see if I take pleasure in this race weekend, and I believe I’ll, and I’ve bought a move from the spouse, in order that’s one other vital factor!”
Button is eager to race extra in 2024 after three appearances in NASCAR Cup street races and collaborating within the Le Mans 24 Hours with the Hendrick-Chevrolet Storage 56 undertaking.
“I’m in a really completely different a part of my life now, I’ve two youngsters, and I don’t need to be away from my household an excessive amount of,” he mentioned. “However I believe I’m a greater dad once I’m racing, and my spouse says the identical factor.
“I will probably be racing one thing subsequent 12 months, it simply relies upon the place and the way a lot I do.”
Button says his race weekend up to now has been about adjusting to the LMDh automobile, which is the primary prototype he’s pushed because the SMP Racing LMP1 undertaking in 2018.
“The issue is that each one I’ve pushed this 12 months is NASCAR, the Cup automobile and Storage 56 at Le Mans,” he added. “And also you’re making massive actions with the steering wheel, which you’ll be able to’t do in a excessive downforce automobile, as a result of as quickly as you get lateral load you lose all the pieces.
“It’s important to be extremely exact in these vehicles, however I’d heard drivers saying constructive and adverse issues about them, so I used to be somewhat bit sceptical, however after driving it for a day, it’s only a racing automobile with downforce. You’re going to not like some issues however like different issues.
“It locks up once you’re going gradual as a result of these vehicles don’t have mechanical grip, so that you’re all the time combating for that since you’ve bought the automobile as little as you possibly can to make the downforce work. If you happen to put the automobile within the air, it turns into softer, and also you’ll fly within the low-speed however you’ll be ineffective within the high-speed stuff.
“It’s the identical with any racing automobile with downforce, which is nice, so I do know what I’m doing.”
Button has had no points up to now with {the electrical} hybrid system within the Porsche, which has added an additional dimension to IMSA’s premier class competitors this season.
“I wouldn’t even comprehend it has a hybrid, there’s not been a second the place it hasn’t labored as anticipated, so it’s very completely different from after we had somewhat lever once I raced one in F1,” he mentioned. “There’s by no means moments the place I get push below braking when it’s harvesting, it’s been very constant.
“The one factor that does take lots of getting used to is that these vehicles have so many issues that you could change. For me, simply leaping in it, I’d say there’s too many issues that I may change!
“I mentioned to the fellows, simply give me the straightforward issues that may give me the largest profit when it comes to altering. The wonderful element isn’t going to be needed for me proper now. I’ll discover that out within the race. However there are such a lot of issues a driver can change, the driving force guide is 58 or 60 pages. Studying that, once you’ve by no means pushed the automobile, is sort of tough!
“There’s lots to play with, and it’s thrilling to place the trouble in and make a distinction.”
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