Button Facing Challenge to Readapt to Acura for Rolex 24

Jenson Button admits adapting to Acura LMDh machinery for next weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona will be a challenge after getting used to driving the Porsche 963.

The 2009 Formula 1 world champion will make his first Rolex 24 outing as part of the lineup for the No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06, sharing a cockpit with Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz and Colton Herta.

Button had his first taste of the ARX-06 in last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway, which came after his IMSA debut in last year’s Motul Petit Le Mans season finale at the wheel of a JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche.

Since then, he has been confirmed as a full-time FIA World Endurance Championship driver for the customer JOTA Porsche team, and was recently in action for the British team in a private test in Bahrain.

Having only done a handful of laps so far in the Acura, Button says he hopes to use this week’s Roar Before the 24 test to get back up to speed with the systems in the ARX-06.

“I don’t want to compare [the Acura to the Porsche], but they both do the same things,” Button told Sportscar365. “They are set up very well, neither do anything they shouldn’t. 

“With the systems in the car, they have similar things you can play with; they just have different names and they are on different places on the steering wheel, and remembering where they are is the biggest pain!

“These cars are complex, and the difficult part is working out what tools you have at your disposal and thinking about that while you are driving at the same time.

“The good thing is we have a couple of days testing this week, because I only did about 25 laps so far, so I’m hoping for a few more.”

Button says that learning to deal with traffic will be another major focus for this week’s running at Daytona, as the December test didn’t feature the full 59-car field.

“I’m looking forward to getting in among the traffic, because at the December test there were far fewer cars,” said the 43-year-old.

“I watched last year’s race, and it’s just manic in the infield with all the overtaking, so I still need to learn how to deal with the traffic. 

“Petit [Le Mans] was nuts, because it was such a small circuit, but that was a different car and it works in a different way when you’re off the racing line, it changes things. So it’s about getting used to that.”

Button added that he was delighted to finally strike a deal to contest the Rolex 24 with WTR Andretti after several years of discussions that didn’t result in a drive.

“It’s been many years talking to Acura and also to Wayne [Taylor], I think the last three years, about driving here, but it just hasn’t worked with schedules and stuff,” he said.

“WTR having two cars now, that’s proper. We have eight experienced drivers, and it’s a great situation for us to be in as a team. I can’t wait to get on track and see where we are.”