Button confirmed for Super GT debut in Suzuka 1000km

Honda has confirmed that Jenson Button will make his Super GT debut in August, driving the NSX-GT as part of Team Mugen's line-up for the 46th Suzuka 1000km race alongside former IndyCar entrant Hideki Mutoh and Daisuke Nakajima.

"After driving an NSX Concept-GT at the Honda Racing Thanks Day last December, I became interested in racing in Super GT," the 2009 F1 World Champion said.

"I spoke with Honda and they have given me the chance to race at the Suzuka 1000km. As an F1 driver and a member of Team Mugen, I will push to win.

"I am very much looking forward to racing in front of my Japanese fans again."

Button was recently asked about his thoughts on Fernando Alonso's decision to run the Indy 500 and whether he would follow suit, but he highlighted other categories as future options.

"Indy's not really been something that I've ever thought about," Button said. "Personally I was surprised that Fernando was interested in doing it, but we all like different things. We're racing drivers, we're not just F1 drivers, and we like trying different sports.

"For me, I would like to do Le Mans one day. I think it would be a great experience, a great team atmosphere. Obviously it has to be the right opportunity like Nico [Hulkenberg] had. I would like to race in NASCAR – I think that would be fun. I went along to one of the races this year; Jimmie Johnson invited me and I had a great time. I loved seeing the show as it is, and it's very different to other motorsport. Equally, it's a challenge, it's a massive challenge. Who knows?

"And then there's other motorsports that I love, like rallycross as well. So there are many things. But Indy hasn't been up there for me for many different reasons."

His most recent outing as Alonso's replacement at McLaren for Monaco ended when his overtake attempt on Pascal Wehrlein saw the Sauber driver flip into the barrier.

RACER's Chris Medland contributed to this report.