The NASCAR Le Mans Chevy Camaro ZL1 – also known as the Garage 56 entry – has been in development for several months now. Fielded by Hendrick Motorsports (HMS), the endurance Camaro is based on the Next Gen Cup Series cars, it has already turned plenty of laps at Sebring. Now, HMS has announced the three drivers that will take control of the race car at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Driving duties will be split between Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, Le Mans champion Mike Rockenfeller and Formula One champion Jensen Button for the endurance race.
Mike Rockenfeller (left) and Jensen Button (right)
“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,” Jim France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR, said in a press release. “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.”
Johnson, who recently announced an ownership role with Cup Series team Legacy Motor Club and intent to compete in several NASCAR events in 2023, said he was thrilled to partner with HMS for this historic race. “I’m so pleased to be here and be a part of this program,” he said at an announcement in Daytona last week. “When Rick [Hendrick] called, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. It’s been a big dream of mine to go to Le Mans and compete and experience what Le Mans is all about. To know that I am going to Le Mans with this great group of drivers, this great team, the collaboration between GM, NASCAR and everybody involved. It is really a special opportunity.”
Jimmie Johnson
Chad Knaus, Johnson’s former Cup Series crew chief and current VP of Competition at HMS, is overseeing the Garage 56 project, while Greg Ives, former Cup Series crew chief for HMS’s Alex Bowman, is in charge of working alongside the drivers to prep the NASCAR Le Mans Camaro. Jordan Taylor of Corvette Racing has been tapped as a relief driver for Le Mans.
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Comments
Does that mean that GM will compete in Le Mans 24 Hours with three different cars?
• Cadillac V-LMdh
• this NASCAR Le Mans Chevy Camaro ZL1
• Corvette
??
Yes it does.
The NASCAR entry is part of Garage 56, a showcase entry, and will not accrue points for any division.
That’s crazy but it sounds like it would hysterical to watch. A NASCAR that will last 24hours!!!??? Holy smoke. It will actually make right hand turns? Wow!
Surely you realize that NAPCAR does race on two road circuits during their season and their vehicles do make a limited number of right hand turns ?
And they’re going to last 24hrs? Really?
A great time to be a race car fan.
Sadly, the Camaro has all the aerodynamics of a Brick and will suffer from that greatly at Le Mans on the Mulsanne straight.