FIA WEC: Jenson Button's video of his first LMP1 test

Jenson Button had his first test with the SMP Racing BR1 last week at the Magny Cours circuit in France. 

On his youtube channel, the Formula 1 world champion gives you an insight and some behind the scenes footage from his first day at the wheel in an LMP1 car.  Check out the video below !

FIA WEC: Positive first test for Jenson Button with SMP Racing

Jenson Button has completed his first test with SMP Racing and the BR1 at Magny Cours in preparation for his debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

© SMP Racing

The British driver's first impressions after his first stints, totalling five hours, at the wheel of the BR Engineering prototype are very positive.  “I must say that the BR1 is very impressive,” said Jenson Button. “I did not expect to find so much grip in this car. Its traction and downforce is excellent in slow turns in very impressive in high speed corners, despite being a big car. I absolutely loved it, nice for my first test to be around Magny Cours as it’s one of my favourite circuits and I have a lot of great memories from racing there. It felt very much like old skool F1 from when we raced there back in ‘05/‘06".

Button did a solid five hours of testing and felt already comfortable behind the wheel of the beast! "We still have some areas where improvement is needed but it's a good starting point.  We are preparing for Le Mans, on a track where a fast car is needed. I am very satisfied with the hours of testing today, and my progress at the wheel of the machine. The first day with SMP Racing and the BR1 was very positive. I am very happy! There is a lot to think about and give to the team before the tests in June. “ On his Instagram account Button said he was "smiling from ear to ear".

SMP Racing has entered two AER porwered BR1 prototypes in the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The # 17 is currently being rebuilt after the car, in the hands of Matevos Isaakyan, took off at Raidillon exiting Eau Rouge at Spa last weekend.

FIA WEC: Jenson Button to drive super season with SMP Racing

SMP Racing has announced Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, as the third driver in the #11 BR Engineering BR1, joining Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov for the 2018/2019 Super season. 

Jenson Button will race with the Russian team in the FIA World Endurance championship, starting at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He won't race in Spa next week due to the date clashing with the second round of the Japanese Super GT Series.  Next to Fernando Alonso, Button is the second F1 world champion to compete in the FIA WEC this season, and the 15th (ex-) F1 driver on this year's grid for the season. 

Boris Rotenberg, SMP Racing founder and leader said: “I’m happy to welcome Jenson Button as a part of our team. He is a top-level driver and Formula 1 Champion. He will race with the Russian BR1 prototype, a car of the top LMP1 category. His teammates will be our strongest drivers Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov. This car was designed with the most advanced motorsport technologies by the best specialists of the Russian company BR Engineering and Italian concern Dallara. We’re sure our line-up is one of the best and most competitive in the FIA WEC.”

Jenson Button added: “I’m delighted to be a part of the SMP Racing team in the FIA World Endurance Championship. My teammates for this year will be Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov whom I know very well from his racing in Formula 1 and Mikhail obviously from his IndyCar exploits. I think with those two and the experience we all have from different types of racing and the team’s fantastic experience in endurance racing we have a great chance to fight at the front and fight for the win and I can’t wait to get going.”

The Russian team SMP Racing will take part in the FIA WEC Super Season with two cars of the top LMP1 category, the Russian BR1 prototypes. The team will be represented by six drivers: Egor Orudzev, Matevos Isaakyan, Stephane Sarrazin (car number 17) and Mikhail Aleshin, Vitaly Petrov and Jenson Button (car number 11).

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “As has been demonstrated over many decades, the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains one of the great motorsport challenges that World Champions wish to conquer.  We are delighted to welcome Jenson Button to the WEC and to Le Mans in particular and are sure that his presence will be extremely popular with fans across the world.”

Gérard Neveu, CEO of the WEC said: “This is very good news for all motorsport fans, especially those in the UK who will see Jenson at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in August. To welcome a champion of his standing and reputation is great for the whole WEC paddock.”