Jenson Button will step aside from driving duties for the next round of the Extreme E electric off-road championship, as rallycross driver Kevin Hansen replaces him in Senegal.
Button’s eponymous JBXE team is sixth of nine entries in the championship after the first round in Saudi Arabia, but for Senegal on May 29-30 Hansen will step-in and partner team-mate Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky.
“I’m delighted to announce that an opportunity has arisen for Kevin Hansen to compete for JBXE in Senegal,” said Button.
“I’m obviously wearing two hats with JBXE as both a driver, but also team owner, and it’s the latter which means having the opportunity to put Kevin in the car for this race was one I didn’t want to pass up.
“Brother of course to Timmy Hansen and son to Rallycross legend, Kenneth Hansen, Kevin has a fantastic pedigree and has already achieved so much in the world of rallycross at such a young age.
“He’s an exciting driver and I can’t wait to see him representing JBXE in Senegal and I look forward to being back behind the wheel in Greenland.”
Hansen added: “I’ve been so involved in the series and developing the car since the beginning, from the early testing programme right to Aragon last year, so to get this opportunity now with Jenson is so nice and I’m super excited to get to Senegal and see what I can do.”
Hansen’s fellow rallycross regular Johan Kristoffersson and co-driver Molly Taylor – an Australian rally champion in her own right – won the first event in the series which aims to highlight the effects of climate change as well as produce sporting action.
Big names and companies have supported the series, with Kristoffersson and Taylor competing for Nico Rosberg’s team, while Lewis Hamilton also fields an entry.
Button’s team has been backed by engineering support from Lotus for the inaugural championship.
