Today at Daytona International Speedway, Chevrolet, NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports announced the drivers that will drive their Garage 56 entry in the centennial running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Mike Rockenfeller, Jimmie Johnson, and Jenson Button – three decorated champions of motorsport – will drive the specially prepared Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 stock car at Le Mans on 10-11 June.
In his opening remarks, IMSA President John Doonan said, “When Bill France Sr. wanted to put NASCAR on a global stage in 1976, he did a little bit of his own Garage 56 project. He took two NASCAR teams over to compete in what we all know is the most iconic 24-hour race in the world, including, of course, our own Rolex 24 at Daytona.”
“Jim France, our chairman, decided he wanted to recreate that same story. A special opportunity to put NASCAR on a global stage. He certainly had an opportunity to do that with the new Next Gen Cup car, and then he said, let’s bring a team of All-Stars together.”
“I would suggest if there is ever such a thing as an All-Star team in motorsports, this project is the absolute poster of that,” Doonan said.
Rockenfeller (seen below, testing the Camaro with Technical Director Chad Knaus) won both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona overall in 2010, the crowning achievements of a 20+ year racing career. The 39-year-old German driver has won championships in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), and the FIA GT Championship (now GT World Challenge Europe) over the course of his career.
He made his NASCAR Cup Series debut this past summer at Watkins Glen and has since been the lead development driver for the Garage 56 Camaro during testing.
“To be involved from day one, it’s just a great honour,” remarked Rockenfeller. “I can’t wait to share the car with these two especially young team-mates!”
“Let’s hope that we have some fun, and definitely I think the fans will love this car in Le Mans. That’s for sure.”
Johnson will make his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in June, representing the legacy of NASCAR. He is one of three drivers to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship title a record-equalling seven times, a record he shares with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. He has two victories in the Daytona 500, all as a member of Hendrick Motorsports from his debut in late 2001 to his retirement from full-time competition in 2020.
This past year, the 47-year-old from California also made his debut in the Indianapolis 500, and he will return to NASCAR’s top flight on a part time basis as a part-owner and driver of the rebranded Legacy Motor Club team. No stranger to endurance racing, Johnson has also made nine starts in the Daytona 24 Hours, with three overall runner-up finishes in 2005, 2008, and in 2021 in an Action Express entered Cadillac DPi – alongside Rockenfeller as a co-driver.
“When Rick [Hendrick] called, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. It’s been a big dream of mine to go to Le Mans and compete, and experience what it’s all about,” said Johnson. “To have the experience I have had here – I know how special this event is, and I’m sad that I’m not out there today.”
“But to know that I’m going to Le Mans with this great group of drivers, this great team, this collaboration between GM and NASCAR and everybody involved, it’s really a special, special opportunity.”
“It’s the last thing standing on my ‘bucket list’, as well, my own personal list that I’ve had through the years, is to go to Le Mans,” he added.
Completing the driver line-up as a pleasant surprise is Button, who took part in over 300 Formula One grands prix from 2000 to 2017. Button’s crowning achievement was winning the 2009 World Drivers’ Championship with Brawn GP. He is a 15-time F1 Grand Prix winner over the course of his career.
“it’s really, really special to be here,” said Button. “Seriously, I’ve always thought of myself as a racing driver, and I’ve finished my F1 career and I look for new challenges. This is definitely an exciting challenge, to work alongside these two.”
After winding down his F1 career, Button transitioned into sports car racing. In 2018 he won a championship in the SUPER GT Series in Japan, in their premier GT500 class. That same year, he also made his first and only start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans to date, driving a BR Engineering-built prototype.
“I was just asking Jimmie what he was up to in 2023, because this guy can’t sit still. He was running through a few things he’s hoping to do, and he said, I’m hoping to bring NASCAR to Le Mans. I was like, ‘sorry, what?'”
“It started there, and then I got in touch with Rocky, and he said, we’re testing out in Sebring. He said, come and check out what we’re doing and see if it’s something that would interest you. Then I spoke to John, and it all started from there.”
“I haven’t driven the car yet, but I was at the test in Sebring watching and listening to all the information that the drivers were feeding back about the car and the big steps forward that they were making with the car was very impressive.” Button will drive the Camaro for the first time on Tuesday at Sebring.
Corvette Racing driver Jordan Taylor will serve as the Garage 56 reserve driver and driver coach.
"entry" - Google News
January 28, 2023 at 11:05PM
https://ift.tt/0ESZ2x7
Decorated Driving Crew Revealed For NASCAR Garage 56 Entry - Dailysportscar
"entry" - Google News
https://ift.tt/ix2t0vG
https://ift.tt/UrQTLOJ
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Decorated Driving Crew Revealed For NASCAR Garage 56 Entry - Dailysportscar"
Post a Comment