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Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has clarified his future racing plans, confirming that he will not pursue one-off appearances at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours after concluding his World Endurance Championship (WEC) involvement at the end of the 2025 season. He emphasized the significant commitment required for top-tier endurance racing and expressed a desire to shift his focus towards historic racing events.

Button's decision stems from the intricate demands of the WEC Hypercar category, which necessitates continuous engagement and adaptation due to its sophisticated systems. He highlighted that the learning process for these complex machines is more challenging for an experienced driver like himself compared to younger competitors. Looking ahead, Button intends to concentrate on racing for enjoyment, with a particular passion for historic motorsport, and remains open to select opportunities such as the NASCAR Cup series, which he finds less technically demanding.

The Complexities of Hypercar Racing and Button's Departure

Jenson Button has articulated his reasons for ruling out a future one-off participation in the Le Mans 24 Hours once his current tenure in the World Endurance Championship concludes in 2025. The former Formula 1 world champion stressed that the highly advanced nature of the WEC Hypercar class demands a profound and continuous immersion to master its intricate systems and dynamics. He pointed out that the constant evolution and novel aspects of these vehicles require an ongoing learning process that is increasingly arduous for him at 44 years of age compared to his younger counterparts.

Button, who joined the Hypercar field last year with Jota's customer Porsches before transitioning to Cadillac's factory program for 2025, underscored that success in endurance racing is contingent upon full-time dedication. This extensive commitment contrasts with the sporadic appearances that a one-off Le Mans entry would entail, making it an unappealing prospect for him. His perspective highlights the rigorous demands placed upon drivers in modern top-tier endurance motorsport, where deep understanding of vehicle technology and consistent adaptation are paramount.

Shifting Focus: From WEC to Historic Motorsport and Selective Ventures

Following his confirmed departure from the Jota team at the end of his two-year contract, Jenson Button is recalibrating his racing career towards a more leisure-oriented approach. He has made it clear that his future will involve "racing for fun" rather than professional full-time competition. His primary passion now lies in historic racing, a segment of motorsport he deeply cherishes, citing it as a natural progression given his age and enthusiasm for classic automobiles.

Button's burgeoning collection of vintage race cars, including a Jaguar E-type and Juan Manuel Fangio's former C-type, underscores this passion. He has already demonstrated success in this arena, securing his first victory at the Goodwood Revival alongside Alex Buncombe. Furthermore, Button has not entirely dismissed the possibility of returning to the NASCAR Cup series, an experience he described as less system-dependent and more mechanically intuitive, making it a viable option for occasional appearances without the intense preparation demanded by Hypercar racing.

Emerging talent Marcus Littlewood, a prominent figure in the Radical Cup UK, has significantly advanced his standing in the esteemed Autosport National Rankings. Bolstered by a hat-trick of wins at Donington Park, Littlewood secured the Radical title and climbed seven positions, now occupying the fifth spot. This achievement marks him as the week's most notable riser. While the 2025 season concluded at Donington, limiting further opportunities to add to his 13 victories, Littlewood's performance has firmly established him as a force to be reckoned with, though still trailing the leading contender, Ali Bray, who boasts 20 wins.

The Autosport National Rankings are meticulously compiled based on race victories in various UK and Irish motorsport events throughout the season, with each race holding equal weight. Beyond Littlewood's ascent, several other drivers demonstrated significant shifts in their rankings this week. Tyler Read, despite securing two Legends victories at Snetterton, experienced a more modest three-position climb to seventh, highlighting the competitive nature of the rankings.

At Silverstone, Jonathan Moore showcased his consistent dominance in the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB's secondary class. He achieved a double victory, though one was curtailed due to a red-flag incident, resulting in a single-lap declaration. Nevertheless, Moore's strong showing propelled him eight places higher to ninth in the overall standings. Directly below him, Matthew Highcock claimed victory in the BMW 116 Trophy race at Croft. However, due to the success of multiple other winners, Highcock saw a slight dip of one position, settling at tenth.

A particularly impressive leap was made by Mark Smith, who surged into the top 50, landing at the eleventh position. The American driver delivered an unblemished performance at Donington in the GT Cup, securing all four available race wins in his McLaren 720S GT3. This comprehensive sweep allowed him to re-enter the rankings with significant momentum.

Another driver enjoying a stellar weekend was Jack Robinson, who emerged as a standout among three consecutive climbers at the Classic Sports Car Club meeting at Thruxton. Robinson, a star in the Jaguar Championship, not only clinched two victories in his primary series but also piloted his XK8 to a class win in the Modern Classics race. These exceptional results saw him advance 23 places to thirteenth.

Niall Bradley, a seasoned competitor in the BMW Championship, reinforced his reputation as a top contender with an overall win and an additional class victory at Thruxton, moving him up 29 positions to seventeenth. Also making strides in the CSCC event at the Hampshire circuit was Connor Kay, who skillfully guided his TVR Tuscan to triumph in one of the Swinging 60s races, elevating him 13 spots to eighteenth. Ben Short, a consistent performer in the MX5 Cup, despite securing only one victory out of three races at Croft, still managed to climb 11 positions to twenty-second in the rankings.

The Autosport National Rankings serve as a comprehensive measure of performance across various UK and Irish car races, with specific criteria applied to ensure fairness. The ranking system meticulously accounts for overall victories, and class wins are only recognized if there are at least six starters in that class, or under specific conditions for multi-stage events or merged championships. In cases of ties, overall wins are prioritized, and if a tie persists, the average grid size for a driver's wins is used to determine the final order. Littlewood's recent success at Donington Park underscores the dynamic nature of these rankings, where consistent performance and multiple victories are key to ascending among the nation's top motorsport talents.