Button to join Alonso at Le Mans

Jenson Button will take on former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso at the Le Mans 24 Hours after signing a deal for the 2018-19 World Endurance Championship season with Russian team SMP Racing. Button will take part in each round of the WEC calendar, except next weekend's season-opener in Belgium.

Button has signed a deal to drive SMP's LMP1 prototype, putting him in direct competition with Alonso, who will race in the same class for Toyota.

Two-time world champion Alonso is targeting the 'Triple Crown' of Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans and Indianapolis 500 race victories. Like Alonso, Button has a win in Monaco to his name although the 2009 champion has not discussed any intention to match Graham Hill's unique feat.

However, Button has set his sights on taking victory alongside ex-F1 driver Vitaly Petrov and IndyCar competitor Mikhail Aleshin.

"It's always been a dream of mine to race at Le Mans, I think it's every driver's dream to take part and hopefully go on to clinch that win at Le Mans, and I'm definitely no different," said the 2009 F1 champion.

"My team-mates will be Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov, who I know very well from his racing in F1 [Petrov], and Mikhail from his IndyCar exploits.

"We go to Le Mans to fight for the win.

"Every driver aims to win every race they go in for, but I think we really do have a good chance of being competitive at Le Mans."

Formula 1 Champion 2009 British driver Jenson Button will race for the Russian team SMP Racing in the FIA WEC Super Season. He will drive the Russian BR1 prototype in the LMP1 class.https://t.co/Mzqan23Yu9 pic.twitter.com/RSj6fAVqsZ — SMP Racing (@SMP_Racing) April 27, 2018

Alonso's bid for the 'Triple Crown' is mirrored by Juan Pablo Montoya, who only needs to win Le Mans to complete the set.

The Colombian will take part in this season's endurance classic for United Autosports, although his placing in the LMP2 category makes victory unlikely.