Le Mans allows a maximum of 55 cars into the 24 Hours at Le Mans race; however, they have reserved a Garage 56 for special entry of a prototype or experimental car.
NASCAR, Chevrolet, Goodyear, and Hendrick Motorsports have joined forces to create a car that will be entered into the 2023 Le Mans race. Prior to the launch of the 2023 WeatherTech Championship season start with the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona the three drivers that will share the driving duties for the 24 hour race with seven time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Formula One champion driver Jenson Button, and touring car expert and Rolex 24 winner Mike Rockenfeller. Button is the only one of the three drivers who has previously participated in a Le Mans race.
Rolex 24 and Le Mans veteran Jordan Taylor has been added to the team as a driver coach and reserve driver. Taylor is also a previous Le Mans winner.
NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France spoke on the entry saying, “since the beginning of the Garage 56 project, it has been our goal to partner with the top racers in the world to represent us in Le Mans. The lineup of Jimmie, ‘Rocky’ and Jenson is everything we could have dreamed of — three elite drivers who have won at the highest levels of motorsports worldwide. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, we are honored to have these world-class champions help bring the sights and sounds of a NASCAR race car to fans in Le Mans, and across the world.”
The Chevrolet ZL Garage 56 entry is based on the Next Gen car currently being driven by NASCAR Cup Series drivers.
Speaking on his opportunity to drive the Garage 56 car, Johnson said, “I’m super thrilled. It’s been at the top of my bucket list to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans someday. To have this opportunity come — and to partner with everybody and this driver lineup — is truly an incredible opportunity and one that I am thankful to be a part of.” At 47, Johnson is the oldest driver of the trio.
Mike Rockenfeller’s name may sound a bit familiar to NASCAR fans, especially those who enjoy road course racing, with his Cup Series debut last year on the road course at Watkins Glen International. Rockenfeller said, “it has been a great journey so far with the whole team and project. To be involved as a driver from Day One until now was already a great honor, and to now have Jimmie and Jenson alongside me as teammates in Le Mans is unbelievable.”
Jenson Button also spoke on being a part of the Garage 56 driving team saying, “as a lifelong racing fan, I have always dreamed of racing certain cars, with and against certain drivers and competing in certain events. In June, a number of those dreams will come true in one event when I get to bring NASCAR to the world stage alongside my pals Jimmie and ‘Rocky’ at the 100th running of the most prestigious race in the world. I’m really looking forward to sharing this journey with NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, and current and future NASCAR fans from around the world.”
In 2023, NASCAR and Le Mans are celebrating anniversaries with NASCAR celebrating 75 years of racing and Le Mans celebrating 100 years of racing.