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Ex-Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Marcus Ericsson will compete in top-level sportscars at the Daytona 24 Hours next year as part of the Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti team.
Button finished fifth on his IMSA debut with JDC Miller in a Porsche last month at the famous Petit Le Mans.
He’ll join IndyCar race winner Colton Herta and two drivers who he worked with in 2023, Mike Rockenfeller and Jordan Taylor, who were both part of the Garage 56 NASCAR Le Mans entry Button drove.
The Daytona 24 Hours takes place on January 27-28, 2024, kicking off what should be a busier year of racing for Button. He's already been linked to a top-line WEC drive though nothing has been officially confirmed.
"I am very happy to announce that I’ll be racing with Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in the #40 Acura ARX-06 with one of my Le Mans team-mates and good pal Jordan Taylor, super speedy Louis Deletraz and Colton Herta whose career in IndyCar I’ve watched with great interest,” Button said in the team’s press release.
“I had my first taste of IMSA last month at Petit Le Mans and loved it. I couldn’t be happier to race at Daytona with such a prestigious team that has achieved so much in endurance racing and especially at Daytona."
While Andretti's Formula 1 bid comes with the support of GM, and is likely to be Cadillac-branded, coincidentally Andretti's IMSA team races an Acura-badged Honda Performance Development-built car.
That means Button and Ericsson will race the Acura ARX-06 which won the race last year.
Meyer Shank Racing won last year’s event but isn’t returning next year. The team was allowed to keep its win after being penalised post-race but suffered a $50,000 fine and 200-point deduction after being accused of manipulating tyre pressure data.
Ericsson will co-pilot the #10 WTR Andretti entry with Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque, and another ex-F1 driver in Brendon Hartley, for his second start in the race. He finished sixth in the Chip Ganassi-run Cadillac Racing DPi-V.R, but has since left Ganassi to switch to Andretti in IndyCar for 2024.
"After getting a taste of the race in 2022, I have been eager to get back on the grid for this legendary race," said Ericsson.
"It feels fantastic to be racing with one of the best and most successful teams in the sport! I’m already counting down the days and I’m looking forward to working with the team and my new team-mates.
"It is extra special for me to be racing with Acura, HPD and HRC which I know very well from racing my entire IndyCar career with them. Bring on 2024!”
Andretti joined forces with American single-seater powerhouse Wayne Taylor for 2023, finishing second in the championship with Ricky Taylor and Albuquerque.
It increased Andretti’s portfolio of racing to join IndyCar, Indy NXT, Formula E, Extreme E and Supercars.
