Upcoming 24-Hour Le Mans Race

This weekend, the world will watch as the 24-hour Le Mans endurance race unfolds, recognized as one of the largest events in motorsport. It holds a prestigious spot in the “Triple Crown of Motorsport,” alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.

One driver in particular is aiming to join a very elite group in the world of racing.

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, is back at Le Mans this season. He made his debut with SMP Racing in 2018 and returns now for the 2023 event, driving for “Garage 56” with Hendrick Motorsport, where he finished 39th.

Last year, Button was with the #38 Cadillac Hertz team Jota, securing 17th place overall and completing the race in 9th position. They managed to finish 311 laps during the 24-hour Le Mans, staying on the lead lap.

Cadillac is, I think, among the favorites this year at Le Mans. Should Button’s team clinch victory, he would become the sixth Formula One champion in history to win this endurance race.

The first to manage this was Mike Hawthorne. He won Le Mans in 1955 with Jaguar before securing his F1 title in 1958 with Ferrari.

Then there was Phil Hill, who, alongside Olivier Gendebien, took Le Mans victories for Ferrari in 1958 and again in 1961. Hill, too, claimed the Formula 1 Drivers Championship during his career.

Next on the list is Jochen Rindt, whose story is quite tragic. He was part of the team that won Le Mans in 1965. In the 1970 F1 season, he was leading the championship while racing for Lotus-Ford. Unfortunately, a severe crash during practice for the Italian Grand Prix claimed his life. Despite this, he was awarded the F1 title posthumously.

Then there’s Graham Hill, the only driver to win all three significant titles in motorsport’s Triple Crown: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24-hour Le Mans. He clinched his first F1 championship in 1962 and eventually triumphed at Le Mans in 1972 with Matra-Simca’s Henri Pescarolo.

Finally, there’s Fernando Alonso, who won back-to-back F1 championships in 2005 and 2006, and then secured Le Mans wins in 2018 and 2019 with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

If Button manages to win this weekend, he will become the sixth member of this exclusive club.

And that’s certainly his goal.

“I believe I have a chance to fight for a victory at Le Mans. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here,” Button stated a couple of years ago, emphasizing his desire not just to take part in the race but to compete fiercely.

We’ll see if he can indeed join that illustrious group in the next 36 hours.