Button Confirmed For Festival Of Speed

IT’S BEEN announced that 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button will return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 26-29, where he is expected to provide one of the event’s star attractions.

Button is no stranger to the Festival of Speed and has attended 14 times previously, driving machinery as diverse as a 1970 Can-Am McLaren M8D, a P1 supercar and Alain Prost’s 1986 title-winning grand prix car. This year, McLarens attending the event include M23, MP4/2 and MP4-26 Formula 1 machines.

Button is the third ex-Formula 1 World Champion to confirm his attendance at this year’s Festival of Speed, joining fellow Briton John Surtees and Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi – who will celebrate 40 years since McLaren’s maiden drivers’ world championship by driving the M23 in which he claimed the 1974 title.

Commenting on his return to the event, Jenson Button said: “Goodwood is one of the highlights of my season. I’ve had the chance to get behind the wheel of some incredible historic racing cars there, which I’d never have been able to drive otherwise, and to meet some of the most enthusiastic fans, who have given me a tremendous amount of support over the years. I’m really looking forward to it.”

By Press Association reporters