Two-time Formula One Word Champion Mika Häkkinen will stand in for Jenson Button at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion when he gets behind the wheel of Emerson Fittipaldi’s McLaren M23 on 18-19 August.
‘The Flying Finn’ will delight race fans at Laguna Seca by taking the 1974 World Championship-winning McLaren on a number of high-speed demonstration laps of the California circuit. Hakkinen drove 130 Grands Prix for the McLaren team between 1993 and 2001, winning 20 and capturing two Driver’s World Championships in the process.
Häkkinen will take to the track at 12:50pm and 5:15pm on the Friday and 12:30pm and 3:50pm the following day, offering visitors the chance to see the legendary Formula One car in between a packed race card boasting more than 550 entries.
“Though we were looking forward to having Jenson Button at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, we are delighted that a driver of Mika’s calibre is able to take his place,” said Gill Campbell, Senior Vice President of Event Operations at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “Formula One is the pinnacle of racing advancement, and Mika will be able to showcase a car with great racing history during his spirited exhibition laps. Fans will surely enjoy the link between past and present during the exhibitions and throughout the event. Thank you to McLaren for making this happen.”
Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC