Iconic Racing Team Switches to McLaren
F1 champ Jenson Button’s racing team makes switch from Honda NSX to new McLaren 720s GT3 for upcoming season.
Legendary racing driver and Formula 1 champion Jenson Button partnered up with RJN motorsport last year to form Jenson Team Rocket RJN, a racing team competing in the GT World Challenge Europe series. For their inaugural season, they ran a Honda NSX GT3 Evo. However, it seems they have had a slight change of heart. Coming in the 2020 season is a McLaren 720s GT3 in the familiar livery.
“It is exciting to confirm that Jenson Team Rocket RJN will be campaigning the 720S GT3 and racing with McLaren this season. The GT World Challenge Europe grid gets stronger and stronger every year, and the racing is amongst the best in the world. We go into the season full of confidence with a team boasting huge experience and a car which has already proven itself as a race winner,” said Button
The livery is reminiscent of Button’s F1 car in which he won the Formula 1 Championship in 2009. The bright highlighter-esque yellow contrasts the white and black elements of the car. In the 2019 season, the team’s Honda NSX GT3 Evos were outfitted with a very similar livery.
Throughout their debut season, the team’s highest finish was 13th in Monza, Italy, according to the GT World Challenge results. Though they have yet to net a podium finish, placing as high as they did in Monza is nothing short of impressive for a team’s debut season. Furthermore, they placed 16th at Silverstone in Great Britain. Perhaps, then, the switch to McLaren will net them their first podium finish in the 2020 season.
McLaren is undoubtedly excited to have Jenson Team Rocket RJN onboard. The 720s GT3 is a well-proven car. On its first competitive outing, the 720s GT3 qualified for pole position and won the race overall. It dominated the field at Australia’s Albert Park Circuit, and Jenson Team Rocket RJN looks to continue this brute’s competitive nature in the GT World Challenge races.
“It is great to have Jenson Team Rocket RJN join the Customer Racing family for 2020. The GT World Challenge Europe offers probably the biggest challenge in GT3 racing, and the 720S GT3 has kicked off the year with a strong result on its Bathurst 12 Hour debut last weekend, taking an outright podium and class victory. We now have a strong foundation to build on, and this latest program with Jenson Team Rocket RJN is extremely exciting for the new season ahead,” said Ian Morgan, McLaren Director of Motorsport
Overall, it looks like these cars are going to put up quite a fight in the racing series. The first race for the GT World Challenge Europe 2020 season takes place in Monza, Italy, on April 17th, 2020. Tickets to the event are available on the GT World Challenge Europe website, should you happen to be in the area.
We look forward to seeing this racing team representing McLaren on the track and hope to see some podium finishes in the 2020 season.
Photos: McLaren