Button to miss Sebring and Spa 2019 WEC rounds

One-time Formula 1 champion Jenson Button will skip both next year’s Sebring and Spa World Endurance Championship rounds.

Button, the 2009 F1 champion and current Super GT title-holder, skipped this year’s Spa WEC race in May as it fell on the same weekend as Super GT’S Fuji race and the two events will clash again in 2019.

Although Button was named in SMP’S line-up on the initial Sebring WEC entry list unveiled earlier this month, the Russian outfit has now confirmed that Super GT test commitments will preclude him from racing in the 1000-mile event in March.

It means Button’s next WEC outing will be the season-closing Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

“It was always clear that it wasn’t going to be easy to combine my participation in the seasons of WEC and Super GT,” said Button, who is also joining Sky Sports F1 as a pundit next year.

“At the same time, to race for SMP Racing – even if I would have to miss certain rounds – is a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.

“The Shanghai podium is an unbelievable achievement and progress for our team, and we’ll keep trying and working further to secure ever greater results.”