Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button will return to top-level motorsport on the age of 44 in 2024.

Button will drive the Jota Porsche 963 within the high hypercar class within the World Endurance Championship, which incorporates the well-known 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

The Englishman retired from Formula 1 in 2016 however is returning for a full season 15 years after successful his F1 title in 2009.

“I’m thrilled to be racing in the 2024 World Endurance Championship,” he mentioned.

“I’m already looking forward to the first race, but also know there’s a lot of work to be done so that we arrive prepared.”

Button is 43 now however turns 44 on 19 January, earlier than the season begins.

A veteran competitor behind the wheel, he contested 306 F1 races throughout 18 years and has made a number of visitor appearances throughout motorsport since 2016.

Those have included a one-off at Le Mans this yr, however this time he’ll compete in an eight-race season throughout Europe, Asia and America.

His announcement comes as sportscar racing is experiencing a renaissance, with a number of main automobile producers returning because of latest design guidelines permitting groups to experiment with efficiency philosophies, whereas different collection impose strict limits.

Following a interval when Toyota had been the one high producer in WEC, the 2023 season noticed Porsche, Ferrari and Cadillac be part of Peugeot in a reinvigorated championship, which noticed Ferrari shock Le Mans by successful after a 50-year absence.

The 2024 marketing campaign will see Alpine, BMW and Lamborghini additionally start hypercar programmes, with Aston Martin becoming a member of in 2025.

Button will even race within the American model of WEC – the IMSA Sportscar Championship – for one race on the Daytona 24 Hours in Florida, United States, in late January.

He will drive the WTR Andretti Acura (Honda) GTP prototype.

Several big-name drivers have been linked with a return to sportscars – together with four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel, who might race for Aston Martin in 2025 after competing for them in F1 on the finish of his profession.

Mick Schumacher final month signed to drive for Alpine in 2024 – his seven-time F1 champion father Michael started his top-level racing profession in sportscars within the legendary Sauber-Mercedes C11.

Lamborghini introduced on Thursday their full driver line-up, which incorporates former F1 drivers Romain Grosjean of France and Russia’s Daniil Kvyat.

Round one of many 2024 FIA WEC season takes place in Doha (Qatar) from 1-2 March.