2009 Formula 1 world champion, Jenson Button has a renewed “love for racing” following a sabbatical, with the Briton confirming he will compete in Japan’s Super GT series in 2018.
The 37-year-old would compete twice this year after ending his F1 career at the end of 2016, first one last appearance for McLaren, replacing Fernando Alonso at the Monaco Grand Prix before later making his Super GT debut at the Suzuka 1000km.
It was after the race in Monte Carlo, which ended is retirement after contact with Pascal Wehrlein, that Button confirmed his F1 career was over and now he says time away from the circuit has actually rejuvenated his passion.
“This year off from F1 has been the best thing I possibly could have done because my love for racing is back,” he told Autosport. “F1, my time was done there, but for racing itself, my love is well and truly back. I’m very excited.”
At the Honda Racing ‘Thanks Day’ this week, it was confirmed Jenson would be back racing with the Japanese manufacturer full-time in Super GT with the level of competition most appealing to him.
“The race I did in August was so exciting, there was so much fighting, so much overtaking, and I really enjoyed it,” Button said. “Towards the end of the year [Masashi] Yamamoto-san [Honda Motorsport boss] asked me if I’d like to do a full year of racing, and I said I’d love to do that.
“[In Super GT] there’s a lot of competition between the manufacturers and a lot of talented drivers, which is what you need in a sport, that’s what gets you excited, that competition.”
The first race of the series will be at Okayama on April 7-8.
