Formula One racer Button and girlfriend among first batch of celebrities to set foot in Cebu for Ironman

The 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will be the first superstar participant of the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines to arrive here in Cebu today together with Japanese fashion model girlfriend Jessica Michibata.

Button, coming from a sixth-place finish for McLaren-Mercedes in last Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, competes in the age-group category while Michibata will be doing a relay with Sportswriters Association of Cebu president John Pages and Cebu 5th district representative  Red Durano.

Button will also be organizing his first-ever triathlon race—the Jenson Button Trust Triathlon on Aug. 19 in London. This will serve as a fund-raiser event for the Help for Heroes charity.  Button has also been joining triathlon races around the world as part of his cross training for Formula One racing.

Aside from Button and Michibata, also arriving today is Erwan Heussaff probably with actress girlfriend Anne Curtis and sister Solenn. He will be competing in his first-ever full Half Ironman race.

Sunrise Events’ Princess Galura said Button has been invited to the press conference on Aug. 3 at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa but he hasn’t confirmed his attendance yet.

Aside from the superstars, the 18 Pros (licensed triathletes) will also start arriving by tomorrow. The Pros will be led by the event’s defending champions Pete Jacobs and Belinda Granger.

Meanwhile, the cities  involved in the event submitted their traffic advisories to the Capitol. Signages will be put up starting this Wednesday to warn motorists about this Sunday’s events.

The race route, which spans from the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay will be closed from 5 a.m. and will be opened by 12 noon.