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Jan Magnussen
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Jan Ellegaard Magnussen[2] (born 4 July 1973) is a Danish professional racing driver and was a factory driver for General Motors until the end of the 2020 season. He has competed in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), NASCAR, the FIA Formula One World Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Key Information
Career history
[edit]Lower series racing
[edit]
Born in Roskilde, Magnussen won the 1992 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, then dominated the 1994 British Formula 3 championship with Paul Stewart Racing, winning fourteen of the eighteen events and breaking Ayrton Senna's F3 record. Magnussen scored his first British F3 win that April at Donington Park, also taking pole for the race.[3] He also won at Brands Hatch, twice at Silverstone, and at Thruxton. He won six of the first eight races.[4] He then won again at Donington Park,[5] and both season-ending rounds at Silverstone.[6]
Major series racing
[edit]Magnussen made his Formula One debut at the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix in Aida, sitting in for Mika Häkkinen, who was unwell; becoming the first Danish to race in the category since Tom Belsø in 1974. In 1996, Magnussen drove in the CART series and International Touring Car Championship.[citation needed]
For 1997–1998, Magnussen had a seat in Formula One with the newly founded Stewart Grand Prix team, owned in part by his old F3 boss Paul Stewart. Team founder Jackie Stewart once described him as "the most talented young driver to emerge since Ayrton Senna",[7] but his performance was underwhelming. He scored his only championship point in his last race in F1, the 1998 Canadian Grand Prix; for the rest of the season he was replaced by Jos Verstappen. Magnussen started 24 GPs, one less than he entered, because his car was damaged in an accident during the start of the 1997 Brazilian Grand Prix causing him to retire before the restart.[citation needed]

In 1999, Magnussen participated in seven CART races. In 1999 and 2000, he raced in the American Le Mans Series with Panoz. In 2001, he drove a Peugeot in Danish Touring Car series (DTC) and raced in eight ALMS races. 2002 he also raced for Peugeot in DTC and in ten ALMS races. Magnussen won the 2008 GT1 and 2013 GT drivers' championships, both with Corvette Racing.[citation needed]
Magnussen has participated in various classes in the 24 hours of Le Mans every year since 1999. His best results so far are the victories in the GTS class in 2004 and GT1 class in 2005, 2006, and 2009, each time in a Chevrolet Corvette with Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta as teammates in 2005 and 2006, and Johnny O'Connell and Antonio García in 2009.[citation needed]
Also, Magnussen has participated in the 12 Hours of Sebring every year since 1999, winning the GT1 class in 2006, 2008, and 2009.[citation needed]
In 2005, Magnussen drove a Toyota Corolla in the Danish Touring Car Championship.[citation needed]
Present day
[edit]Magnussen was still an active driver, competing in the Danish Touring Car Championship (DTC) until 2010 and in a Chevrolet Corvette C7.R in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Antonio Garcia as teammate until 2019 – and in the 24 hours of Le Mans. In the Danish Touring Car series, he drove a Chevrolet Lacetti for Perfection Racing. He won the DTC in 2003 and 2008.[citation needed]

On 11 June 2010, it was announced that Magnussen would make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut driving the No. 09 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing at Infineon Raceway. After starting 32nd on the grid, he finished in twelfth position.[8]
On 14 June 2010, it was announced that Magnussen and Perfection Racing would not be participating in the DTC, leaving Magnussen and the team to focus on the Scandinavian Touring Car Cup's remaining two rounds.[9]

Magnussen drove the No. 57 Stevenson Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro with Robin Liddell and Andrew Davis in the 2010 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season opener, the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Following the Rolex 24, he moved to the team's No. 97 car and competed in the majority of the races with Gunter Schaldach. Magnussen finished 24th in GT points and his best finish was second (Miller) with four top-tens.[10]

On 7 November 2019, Magnussen was confirmed to drive in the inaugural TCR Denmark Touring Car Series for LM Racing in a VW Golf GTI TCR.[11]
On 22 July 2023, Magnussen won Aurum 1006 km endurance race in Lithuania, driving a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 Evo.[12]
On 16 September 2024, it was announced that Magnussen would take part in the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone in November, driving a GT Motorsport-prepared Van Diemen RF78 in the same Duckhams colours that adorned his car at the 1992 Formula Ford Festival [13]
Family
[edit]Magnussen's oldest son Kevin is also a racing driver currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with BMW,[14] having previously competed in Formula One with Haas,[15][16] McLaren[17] and Renault. Kevin mentioned that his father was his first hero when he was a child.[18]
Magnussen's nephew, Dennis Lind, and his youngest son, Luca, are also racing drivers.[citation needed]
Motorsports career results
[edit]British Formula Three
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Paul Stewart Racing | Mugen-Honda | SIL |
THR |
BRH |
DON |
BRH |
SIL |
OUL |
DON |
SIL |
DON |
SNE |
PEM |
SIL |
SIL 4 |
THR 3 |
11th | 7 | |||
| 1994 | Paul Stewart Racing | Mugen-Honda | SIL 3 |
DON 1 |
BRH 1 |
BRH 4 |
SIL 1 |
SIL 1 |
BRH 1 |
THR 1 |
OUL 1 |
DON 1 |
SIL 7 |
SNE Ret |
PEM 1 |
PEM 1 |
SIL 1 |
SIL 1 |
THR 1 |
SIL 1 |
1st | 308 |
Formula One
[edit](key)
| Formula One results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | WDC | Points | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Marlboro McLaren Mercedes | McLaren MP4/10B | Mercedes FO 110 3.0 V10 | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | PAC 10 |
JPN | AUS | NC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | HSBC Malaysia Stewart Ford | Stewart SF01 | Ford VJ Zetec-R 3.0 V10 | AUS Ret |
BRA DNS |
ARG 10† |
SMR Ret |
MON 7 |
ESP 13 |
CAN Ret |
FRA Ret |
GBR Ret |
GER Ret |
HUN Ret |
BEL 12 |
ITA Ret |
AUT Ret |
LUX Ret |
JPN Ret |
EUR 9 |
20th | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | HSBC Stewart Ford | Stewart SF02 | Ford VJ Zetec-R 3.0 V10 | AUS Ret |
BRA 10 |
ARG Ret |
SMR Ret |
ESP 12 |
MON Ret |
CAN 6 |
FRA | GBR | AUT | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | LUX | JPN | 17th | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
† Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he had completed over 90% of the race distance.
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos. | Pts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes C-Class V6 | HOC 1 4 |
HOC 2 Ret |
AVU 1 Ret |
AVU 2 7 |
NOR 1 DNS |
NOR 2 DNS |
DIE 1 14 |
DIE 2 5 |
NÜR 1 Ret |
NÜR 2 7 |
ALE 1 4 |
ALE 2 2 |
HOC 1 Ret |
HOC 2 9 |
8th | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International Touring Car Championship
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| International Touring Car Championship results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | Pos. | Pts | ||||||||||||||
| 1995 | AMG-Mercedes | Mercedes C-Class V6 | MUG 1 3 |
MUG 2 6 |
HEL 1 Ret |
HEL 2 2 |
DON 1 |
DON 2 |
EST 1 2 |
EST 2 1 |
MAG 1 2 |
MAG 2 11 |
2nd | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Warsteiner Mercedes-AMG | Mercedes C-Class | HOC 1 2 |
HOC 2 1 |
NÜR 1 7 |
NÜR 2 3 |
EST 1 Ret |
EST 2 Ret |
HEL 1 Ret |
HEL 2 DNS |
NOR 1 17† |
NOR 2 DNS |
DIE 1 16 |
DIE 2 Ret |
SIL 1 |
SIL 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
MAG 1 Ret |
MAG 2 Ret |
MUG 1 Ret |
MUG 2 5 |
HOC 1 Ret |
HOC 2 4 |
INT 1 14 |
INT 2 3 |
SUZ 1 7 |
SUZ 2 3 |
10th | 97 | ||||||||||||||
† – Did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
American open-wheel racing results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)
CART
[edit]| Year | Team | No. | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Team Penske | 3 | Penske PC-25 | Mercedes-Benz IC108C | MIA | RIO | SRF | LBH | NZR | 500 | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MIS | MOH 14 |
24th | 5 | [19] | |||||||
| Hogan Penske | 9 | ROA 26 |
VAN 22 |
LS 8 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Patrick Racing | 20 | Swift 010.c | Ford XD | MIA | MOT | LBH | NZR | RIO | STL | MIL | POR | CLE | ROA | TOR | MIS | DET 18 |
24th | 8 | [20] | |||||||
| Reynard 99i | MOH 14 |
CHI 24 |
VAN 7 |
LS 17 |
HOU 13 |
SRF 11 |
FON | ||||||||||||||||||||
24 Hours of Le Mans
[edit]24 Hours of Daytona
[edit](key)
Supercars Championship
[edit]| Australian Supercars results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | Final pos | Points | ||||||||||||
| 2003 | Team Dynamik | ADL | PHI | ECK | WIN | PTH | HDV | QLD | ORP | SAN WD† |
BAT 11 |
SUR | PUK | ECK | NC | 152 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Paul Morris Motorsport | YMC R1 |
YMC R2 |
ADE R3 |
ADE R4 |
HAM R5 |
HAM R6 |
PER R7 |
PER R8 |
PER R9 |
WIN R10 |
WIN R11 |
HDV R12 |
HDV R13 |
TOW R14 |
TOW R15 |
QLD R16 |
QLD R17 |
QLD R18 |
PHI Q |
PHI R19 |
BAT R20 |
SUR R21 22 |
SUR R22 8 |
SYM R23 |
SYM R24 |
SAN R25 |
SAN R26 |
SYD R27 |
SYD R28 |
67th | 129 | ||||||||||||
† Withdrew due to licence problems
Bathurst 1000 results
[edit]| Year | Team | Car | Co-driver | Position | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Team Dynamik | Holden Commodore VY | 11th | 158 |
European Touring Car Championship
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| European Touring Car Championship results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Pts | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Peugeot Sport Engineering | Peugeot 307 Gti | MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
VAL 1 11 |
VAL 2 Ret |
MAG 1 19† |
MAG 2 18† |
HOC 1 10 |
HOC 2 12 |
BRN 1 15 |
BRN 2 Ret |
DON 1 19 |
DON 2 Ret |
SPA 1 17 |
SPA 2 18 |
IMO 1 |
IMO 2 |
OSC 1 |
OSC 2 |
DUB 1 12 |
DUB 2 DNS |
NC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
† Magnussen did not complete sufficient laps in order to score full points. * Season still in progress.
Complete TCR Denmark Touring Car Series results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | LM Racing | Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR | JYL 1 3 |
JYL 2 4 |
JYL 3 NC |
JYL 1 7 |
JYL 2 Ret |
JYL 3 5 |
JYL 4 2 |
JYL 5 Ret |
JYL 6 4 |
DJU 1 1 |
DJU 2 2 |
DJU 3 1 |
PAD 1 C |
PAD 2 C |
PAD 3 C |
JYL 1 3 |
JYL 2 3 |
JYL 3 2 |
4th | 215 | |||
| 2021 | LM Racing | CUPRA León Competición TCR | DJU 1 1 |
DJU 2 1 |
DJU 3 1 |
JYL 1 1 |
JYL 2 6 |
JYL 3 1 |
COP 1 Ret |
COP 2 DNS |
COP 3 DNS |
JYL 1 |
JYL 2 |
JYL 3 |
ARH 1 1 |
ARH 2 4 |
ARH 3 DNS |
JYL 1 2 |
JYL 2 1 |
JYL 3 2 |
PAD 1 1 |
PAD 2 3 |
PAD 3 3 |
3rd | 309 |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | High Class Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SPA 9 |
ALG 9 |
MNZ 9 |
LMS | BHR | BHR | 26th | 7 |
| Source:[21] | ||||||||||||
NASCAR
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Sprint Cup Series
[edit]| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | NSCC | Pts | Ref | ||
| 2010 | Phoenix Racing | 09 | Chevy | DAY | CAL | LVS | ATL | BRI | MAR | PHO | TEX | TAL | RCH | DAR | DOV | CLT | POC | MCH | SON 12 |
NHA | DAY | CHI | IND | POC | GLN | MCH | BRI | ATL | RCH | NHA | DOV | KAN | CAL | CLT | MAR | TAL | TEX | PHO | HOM | 63rd | 127 | [22] | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Goodwin, Graham (10 November 2021). "Updated 2022 Provisional FIA Driver Rankings Published". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ "Hot Seatwith Jan Magnussen". Reocities.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "Motorsport Information for April 1994". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Motorsport information for April 1994". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "June 1994 Motorsport Information". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "AUGUST 1994 Motorsport Information". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Too Much Too Young" (PDF). Motor Sport. May 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ Mejia, Diego (21 June 2010). "Magnussen enjoys Sprint Cup debut". Autosport. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ "Team Bauhaus fokuserer på Skandinavien | Racemag". Racemag.dk. 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Jan Magnussen". grand-am.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Jan Magnussen confirmed for inaugural TCR Denmark season". TouringCarTimes.com. 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Stateta BRO by HMobile won the Aurum 1006 km Transition Cup". 22 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ^ "Jan Magnussen to make FF1600 return in Walter Hayes Trophy". 16 September 2024.
- ^ "Eight drivers for four cars: BMW M Motorsport announces the line-ups for its 2025 LMDh programme". www.press.bmwgroup.com. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "Magnussen confirmed at Renault F1 team – MotorSport.com". MotorSport.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Kevin Magnussen Returns to Haas F1 Team". Haas F1 Team. haasf1team.com. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "Kevin Magnussen signed up by McLaren – GPUpdate.net". F1.gpupdate.net. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Latest News". Archived from the original on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ "Jan Magnussen – 1996 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Jan Magnussen – 1999 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Jan Magnussen Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Jan Magnussen – 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Jan Magnussen driver statistics at Racing-Reference
- Jan Magnussen career summary at DriverDB.com
Jan Magnussen
View on GrokipediaPersonal life
Early life
Jan Magnussen was born on 4 July 1973 in Roskilde, Denmark.[11] Raised in the same city, which hosts the Roskildering—Denmark's premier motor racing circuit—he grew up in a family where both parents worked in the police force.[1][11] His early interests included football, but at the age of 11 in 1984, he transitioned to karting, marking his initial exposure to motorsport.[11] Magnussen's karting journey began informally before he entered competition the following year at age 12. In 1985, he claimed his first Danish national karting championship title, a feat he repeated in 1986.[2][12] These early successes in the Danish championships during the mid-1980s laid the foundation for his competitive drive. By the late 1980s, Magnussen had expanded his achievements to include Scandinavian karting events, where he demonstrated consistent performance in regional competitions.[12] His rapid progression in karting highlighted his natural talent, culminating in international recognition with a World Junior Karting title in 1987 at his debut attempt.[12]Family
Jan Magnussen is married to Christina Magnussen, with whom he has two children: a son, Luca Magnussen (born August 23, 2009), who competes in junior racing series, and a daughter, Millie Magnussen (born 2011). He also has an older son, Kevin Magnussen (born October 5, 1992), from a previous marriage; Kevin is a professional racing driver who has competed in Formula One.[13][14] The Magnussen family has left a lasting mark on Danish motorsport through multi-generational involvement and collaborative efforts in high-profile events. Jan and Kevin have teamed up for joint racing appearances, including the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP2 class with High Class Racing, where they finished 29th overall; the 2022 Gulf 12 Hours at Yas Marina Circuit, securing a top-10 result. These outings highlight the family's mutual support and shared passion for endurance racing.[15][16] Notable family milestones include Jan's guidance during Kevin's entry into Formula One with McLaren in 2014, drawing on his own brief stint in the series to provide emotional and practical support amid the high pressures of a rookie season. Luca, inspired by his father and half-brother, began karting at age six and progressed to single-seaters, making his car racing debut in the 2025 GB4 Championship with Fortec Motorsport.[17][18][19]Racing career
Junior and lower formulae
Magnussen transitioned from a successful karting career, where he secured multiple world junior titles, to single-seater racing with his debut in the Danish Formula Ford 1600 series in 1991 at Jyllands-Ringen, where he immediately scored points by finishing eighth.[12][20] In 1992, he relocated to the United Kingdom to compete in the British Formula Ford championship with the Foundation Racing team, achieving seven victories in 19 races and securing third place overall in the standings; that same year, he capped his season by winning the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.[12][21] Also in 1992, Magnussen ventured into the Formula Vauxhall Lotus series, where he recorded four wins, demonstrating his rapid adaptation to more competitive environments.[12][1] Magnussen debuted in the British Formula 3 Championship in 1993 with Alan Docking Racing, where he claimed seven race wins and finished as runner-up in the standings behind champion Kelvin Burt.[12] In 1993, he also participated in the Formula Opel Lotus Euroseries, earning three victories and seven podiums to end fourth overall.[11] For the 1994 season, he joined Paul Stewart Racing and dominated the British Formula 3 Championship, securing 14 wins out of 18 races to claim the title convincingly.[12][22] A highlight of Magnussen's junior career came in November 1994 when he competed in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix, finishing third behind winner Sascha Maassen and Kelvin Burt, further solidifying his reputation as one of Europe's top emerging talents.[23][24]Formula One
Jan Magnussen entered Formula One with high expectations following his dominant 1994 British Formula 3 championship, where he secured 14 victories and broke Ayrton Senna's win record. His debut came at the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix at TI Aida, substituting for the unwell Mika Häkkinen in the McLaren-Mercedes, where he qualified eighth and finished eighth after 81 laps, demonstrating composure in the challenging MP4/10 car despite its handling difficulties. This one-off appearance marked the only race Magnussen contested with McLaren that year, after which Häkkinen returned to the seat.[25][26][27] Remaining with McLaren as a test driver through the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Magnussen contributed to development work while gaining further experience, though opportunities for race seats were limited by the team's established lineup of Häkkinen and David Coulthard. In 1997, he transitioned to a full-time role with the newly formed Stewart Grand Prix team, partnering Rubens Barrichello in the Ford-powered SF1; the squad, backed by Jackie Stewart, aimed to build from scratch amid a competitive midfield. Magnussen entered all 17 races that season but started only 16 after a DNS in Brazil, hampered by mechanical unreliability and managing only sporadic points-contending runs without scoring.[27][25] The 1998 season with Stewart saw Magnussen start seven races in the upgraded SF2, but persistent reliability woes—contributing to 15 retirements across his Stewart tenure—limited his results, with the team struggling to match established midfield rivals like Jordan and Sauber. His standout performance was a sixth-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, earning his sole championship point after a strategic drive in damp conditions. However, following lackluster showings and team pressure for improved consistency, Magnussen was replaced mid-season by Jos Verstappen after the Canadian Grand Prix, ending his F1 driving career.[28][25] Magnussen's overall Formula One record comprised 25 entries (24 starts) over four seasons, yielding 1 point and no podiums, with his inexperience at age 23 upon full-time entry and the developmental challenges of a startup team like Stewart cited as key factors undermining his potential. Despite the frustrations, his raw pace in qualifying—such as sixth on the grid at the 1997 Austrian Grand Prix—hinted at untapped talent that later flourished in other series.Open-wheel racing in America
Following his departure from Formula One at the end of the 1998 season, Jan Magnussen sought new opportunities in American open-wheel racing, returning to the CART series where he had made a brief appearance two years earlier. In 1996, he substituted for injured drivers Emerson Fittipaldi and Paul Tracy at Marlboro Team Penske and Hogan Penske Racing, competing in four races with a best finish of 8th at the Molson Indy Toronto; he completed all events without scoring points, gaining valuable experience in the series' mix of road courses and ovals.[29][30] Magnussen's more substantial involvement came in 1999 with Patrick Racing, where he drove the No. 20 Visteon-sponsored Reynard 99i-Ford for the final seven races after replacing the injured P. J. Jones. Despite the team's uncompetitive chassis, he scored 8 points to finish 24th in the drivers' standings, with his lone top-10 result—a 9th place at the Michigan 500—highlighting his relative strength on ovals compared to his overall struggles in the series' high-speed, pack-racing environment. On road courses like Vancouver and Surfers Paradise, he showed promise with consistent midfield finishes, but incidents such as contact with Robby Gordon at Detroit limited his progress.[30][22][31] Over his CART career spanning 11 starts across 1996 and 1999, Magnussen accumulated 8 points without a podium, often hampered by mechanical issues and the learning curve of adapting from European road-racing circuits to America's oval-dominated schedule. Lacking sufficient funding for a full-season program and facing stiff competition, he opted to retire from Champ Car after 1999, redirecting his efforts toward the American Le Mans Series where he found greater success with Panoz prototypes.[22]Sports car and endurance racing
Magnussen transitioned to sports car racing in 1999, making his debut in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with Panoz Motor Sports in the LMP900 class aboard the front-engine Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S. Paired with Johnny O'Connell, he secured the team's inaugural victory at Mosport International Raceway, demonstrating his adaptability from single-seater prototypes to the demands of closed-cockpit endurance machinery.[30] That same year, Magnussen entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time, co-driving the Panoz to a 15th-place overall finish and providing early exposure to the event's grueling 24-hour format.[32] His endurance career flourished after joining Corvette Racing in 2004 as a factory driver for select long-distance races, becoming a full-season competitor in 2007. With the team, Magnussen amassed numerous class victories in major endurance events, leveraging his Formula One-honed precision in high-speed prototypes and GT cars to excel in team-based strategy and stint management. Over nearly two decades with Corvette through 2023, he formed a particularly successful partnership with Antonio García starting in 2011, contributing to ALMS GT championships in 2008 and 2013, as well as IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans (GTLM) titles in 2017 and 2018.[6][33] Magnussen's most prominent successes came at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he competed 23 times through 2023, securing four class victories in the GT1/GTE Pro categories—all with Corvette Racing. His breakthrough arrived in 2004, winning GT1 with Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin in the No. 64 Corvette C5-R, finishing sixth overall after a reliable run that highlighted the car's balance on the Circuit de la Sarthe. This triumph initiated a three-year consecutive GT1 class winning streak in 2005 and 2006, again with Beretta and Gavin, where strategic pit stops and consistent pacing propelled them to fifth and fourth overall, respectively. Magnussen claimed his fourth Le Mans class win in 2009, sharing the No. 63 Corvette C6.R with O'Connell and García to finish 11th overall in a race marked by intense GT competition.[6][34][35] Beyond Le Mans, Magnussen excelled in other marquee U.S. endurance races, including multiple class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the GT/GTLM categories: 2004 (GTS with Ron Fellows and Max Papis), 2005 and 2009 (GT1 with Beretta, Gavin, and O'Connell), and 2015 (GTLM with García and Ryan Briscoe in the Corvette C7.R). These victories underscored his prowess in the high-stakes, multi-class environment of Daytona International Speedway, where he navigated traffic and varying weather conditions effectively. Magnussen also triumphed in the 12 Hours of Sebring five times (2006, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017), further cementing his reputation as a cornerstone of Corvette Racing's endurance program.[36][6]Touring and GT racing
Magnussen entered touring car racing in Europe with a debut in the 1999 DTM season for Abt Audi, marking his initial foray into high-level tin-top competition following his Formula One experience. He continued in the series the following year with Mercedes, securing his career-best result of 5th in the championship standings across 12 races, highlighted by one podium finish. Concurrently, he competed in the 1999 International Touring Car Championship (ITC) with Audi, contributing to the series' competitive field before its discontinuation.[22] In 2001, Magnussen expanded his touring car endeavors to Australia, joining Garry Rogers Motorsport to drive a Holden Commodore in the V8 Supercars Championship, a move that saw him participate through the 2003 season. His most successful year came in 2002, where he claimed two race victories and established himself as a strong contender in the series' sprint format events. This period also included three starts in the prestigious Bathurst 1000 endurance race from 2001 to 2003, with his best result being 6th overall in 2002 alongside co-driver Steven Richards. Returning to European GT racing later in his career, Magnussen joined R-Motorsport for the 2017 and 2018 Blancpain GT Series seasons in an Audi R8 LMS, achieving notable success including victories at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which underscored his adaptability to GT sprint racing. In a recent highlight, Magnussen secured victory in the 2024 Aurum 1006 km race at Palanga Speedway in Lithuania, driving a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 Evo for Stateta BRO by HMobile alongside co-drivers Anders Fjordbach, Eimantas Navikauskas, and Edvinas Žadeikis, finishing first in the GT3 class and third overall.[37]Other racing appearances
Magnussen ventured into stock car racing with a one-off appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series at the 2010 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, driving the No. 09 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing and finishing 12th after starting 32nd.[38][39] In 2005, Magnussen made guest appearances in the European Touring Car Championship's Division 2, competing for Peugeot Sport in a Peugeot 307, though specific race results from those events are limited in records.[22] Magnussen participated in the inaugural season of TCR Denmark in 2019, driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, and returned in 2020 with LM Racing in the same model, where he achieved 2 wins and 8 podiums across 14 races to finish 4th in the standings.[40][22] In 1997, Magnussen made a one-off appearance in the FIA GT Championship with the McLaren F1 GTR, marking an early foray into grand touring prototypes amid his Formula One commitments. Magnussen competed in historic racing at the 2025 Le Mans Classic, sharing a Lola T70 Mk.3B GT from 1969 with Chris Ward for entry No. 58, securing 2nd place in their category (Plateau 5).[41]Later career and legacy
Coaching roles
Following his retirement from full-time professional driving, Jan Magnussen transitioned into coaching and mentorship roles, leveraging his extensive experience in Formula One, endurance racing, and GT categories to guide emerging talent. In March 2024, he was appointed as driver development manager at MDK Motorsports, overseeing programs in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America.[42] In this capacity, Magnussen focuses on coaching young drivers through personalized performance analysis, data review, and on-track feedback to enhance their skills and racecraft.[43] His responsibilities also include monitoring team workflows, identifying inefficiencies, and contributing to overall driver and crew optimization across MDK's multi-series entries.[43] Magnussen's coaching extends to his family, where he has played a pivotal role in nurturing the careers of his sons. He guided his eldest son, Kevin Magnussen, from junior formulae through to a successful Formula One tenure with the Haas team from 2014 to 2016 and 2021 to 2024.[42] Similarly, he supports his younger son, Luca Magnussen, who at age 15 made his car racing debut in the 2025 GB4 Championship season with Fortec Motorsport after securing a Danish karting title in 2023.[42][44] In 2025, Magnussen continued his work with MDK Motorsports while expanding his mentorship scope through a new joint venture with fellow Danish motorsport expert Tommy Schröter. This partnership emphasizes talent development and high-level coaching for Danish drivers, aiming to foster the next generation in international racing series. Drawing from his background as a four-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and former factory driver, Magnussen's advisory input helps bridge technical expertise with practical race strategy for protégés.[45]Notable achievements and records
Jan Magnussen holds the record for the most starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by a Danish driver, with 24 participations as of 2025.[46] He achieved four class victories in the event, securing GT1 wins in 2004, 2005, and 2006 with Corvette Racing, followed by an LMGT1 triumph in 2009.[47] These successes highlight his endurance in GT categories, where he also earned nine class podiums and a best overall finish of fourth place.[35] Magnussen has been recognized with several accolades for his racing prowess. He was named Danish Racing Driver of the Year, reflecting his contributions across single-seaters and sports cars. In 2023, he added a GT3 class victory at the Aurum 1006 km endurance race in Palanga, Lithuania, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo for Stateta BRO by HMobile.[22] In 2024, Magnussen was inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame alongside Oliver Gavin for his contributions to Corvette Racing. He continues to make occasional appearances in historic and GT racing events.[48] Magnussen's career exemplifies bridging elite open-wheel racing with endurance disciplines, having competed in Formula One, CART/Champ Car, and multiple Le Mans classes while maintaining competitiveness into his 50s.[25] His legacy extends through his son Kevin Magnussen, forming one of motorsport's notable father-son duos in F1, with both debuting for McLaren-Mercedes.[25] Magnussen's ongoing coaching roles and recent victories underscore his enduring influence in nurturing Danish talent and sustaining a presence in international GT racing.[42]Racing results
Formula One results
Jan Magnussen participated in two seasons of Formula One, making one start in 1995 for McLaren and seven starts in 1998 for Stewart. His only points finish came in 1998 with a sixth place at the Canadian Grand Prix. The table below details his race-by-race results, including grid positions, finishing positions, and points scored.| Year | Grand Prix | Team | Grid | Finish | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Pacific | McLaren-Mercedes | 12 | 10 | 0 | +2 laps |
| 1998 | Australian | Stewart-Ford | 19 | Ret | 0 | Collision on lap 1 |
| 1998 | Brazilian | Stewart-Ford | 19 | 10 | 0 | +2 laps |
| 1998 | Argentine | Stewart-Ford | 19 | 12 | 0 | +1 lap |
| 1998 | San Marino | Stewart-Ford | 19 | Ret | 0 | Engine failure on lap 13 |
| 1998 | Monaco | Stewart-Ford | 19 | DSQ | 0 | Finished 7th but disqualified for shortcut at chicane |
| 1998 | Spanish | Stewart-Ford | 19 | 12 | 0 | +3 laps |
| 1998 | Canadian | Stewart-Ford | 19 | 6 | 1 | +1:11.835 |
CART/Champ Car results
Jan Magnussen competed in the CART/Champ Car World Series across two seasons, 1996 and 1999, entering a total of 11 races with the Penske/Hogan and Patrick Racing teams, respectively. He earned a career-high of 8 points in 1999, finishing 24th in the drivers' standings both years, with no wins, podiums, or pole positions to his credit. Magnussen powered Mercedes engines in 1996 and Ford engines in 1999, but did not attempt the Indianapolis 500 during his time in the series. He had no entries in CART/Champ Car from 2000 to 2003.[49][50]Season-by-Season Summary
| Year | Team(s) | Races | Poles | Wins | Podiums | Points | Standing | Engine Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Penske/Hogan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 24th | Mercedes |
| 1999 | Patrick Racing | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 24th | Ford |
1996 Detailed Results
Magnussen debuted in CART midway through the 1996 PPG IndyCar World Series, racing the No. 13 Penske PC-25-Mercedes for Penske at Mid-Ohio before switching to the No. 99 Hogan Penske PC-25-Mercedes for the final three events. His best result was an 8th-place finish at Laguna Seca.[50]| Race | Track | Start | Finish | Laps | Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Mid-Ohio | 18 | 14 | 81 | Running | 0 |
| 14 | Road America | 10 | 26 | 0 | Contact | 0 |
| 15 | Vancouver | 19 | 22 | 48 | Fire | 0 |
| 16 | Laguna Seca | 16 | 8 | 83 | Running | 5 |
1999 Detailed Results
In 1999, Magnussen contested seven races for Patrick Racing in the No. 20 Visteon Reynard 99I-Ford, starting his campaign from the Detroit Belle Isle round and achieving a best finish of 7th at Vancouver. His season was hampered by mechanical issues and accidents, including a crash at Chicago. Finishing positions: 18th (Belle Isle), 14th (Mid-Ohio), 24th (Chicago, contact), 7th (Vancouver), 17th (Laguna Seca, transmission), 13th (Houston), 11th (Surfers Paradise).[49][51]24 Hours of Le Mans results
Jan Magnussen has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans annually since 2001, primarily in prototype and GT classes, amassing 23 starts through 2023 with four class victories in the GT1 and GTE Pro categories. His endurance prowess is exemplified by consecutive GT1 class wins with Corvette Racing from 2004 to 2006, followed by another in 2009, contributing to the team's strong presence in the event.[7] Retirements due to mechanical issues or accidents were common in his early prototype efforts, while later GT campaigns yielded consistent podium contention despite occasional DNFs from crashes or reliability problems.[52] The following table summarizes his key participations and results, focusing on class, team, co-drivers, qualifying position, race finish, laps completed, and notes on retirements.| Year | Class | Team | Co-drivers | Qualifying (Class) | Race Finish (Class/Overall) | Laps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | LMP900 | Panoz Motor Sports | David Brabham, Éric Lagorce | Not available | DNF / - | Not available | Retired due to mechanical failure.[52] |
| 2002 | LMP900 | Panoz Motor Sports | David Brabham, Bryan Herta | Not available | DNF / - | Not available | Retired due to accident or mechanical issue.[52] |
| 2003 | LMP1 | Audi Sport Japan Team Goh | Marco Werner, Seiji Ara | Not available | 2nd / 4th | 377 | Strong prototype performance with factory Audi support.[52] |
| 2004 | GT1 | Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta | Not available | 1st / 6th | 374 | First class win, highlighting Corvette's GT dominance.[7] |
| 2005 | GT1 | Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta | Not available | 1st / 5th | 357 | Consecutive class victory amid shortened race due to rain.[7] |
| 2006 | GT1 | Corvette Racing | Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta | Not available | 1st / 4th | 360 | Third straight class win, best overall result in GT era.[7] |
| 2009 | GT1 | Corvette Racing | Johnny O'Connell, Antonio Garcia | Not available | 1st / 11th | 354 | Fourth class win in final GT1 appearance for C6.R. |
| 2011 | GTE Pro | Corvette Racing | Jordan Taylor, Max Martin | Not available | DNF / - | 211 | Retired after crash while leading class.[53] |
| 2014 | GTE Pro | Corvette Racing | Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor | 1st | 2nd / 23rd | 351 | Pole position but settled for runner-up after strategy battles.[22] |
| 2016 | GTE Pro | Corvette Racing | Antonio Garcia, Ricky Taylor | Not available | 7th / 25th | 336 | Solid finish despite one lap down in competitive field.[54] |
| 2021 | LMP2 | High Class Racing | Kevin Magnussen, Nicolás Lapierre | Not available | 6th / 18th | 362 | Family debut in prototypes, reliable run in LMP2.[55] |
| 2023 | LMP2 | Inter Europol Competition | Not available | Not available | DNF / - | Not available | Returned to LMP2 but retired early due to mechanical issues.[46] |
IMSA SportsCar Championship results
Jan Magnussen's involvement in the IMSA SportsCar Championship spanned over two decades, beginning with prototype racing in 2001 and transitioning to a highly successful tenure in GT classes with Corvette Racing from 2004 onward. His career in the series, which encompassed the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), Grand American Road Racing Association (Grand-Am), and the unified IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship after their 2014 merger, featured 35 class victories and five championships, primarily in GT/GTLM categories. Magnussen's expertise in endurance events and consistent performances with co-drivers like Oliver Gavin and Antonio García established him as one of the series' most accomplished drivers.[6]| Year | Class | Team | Points | Position | Wins | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | LMP900 | Panoz Motor Sports | 159 | 5th | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 | GT | Corvette Racing | 26 | 8th | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | GT | Corvette Racing | 45 | 7th | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | GT | Corvette Racing | 45 | 7th | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | GT | Corvette Racing | 184 | 2nd | 3 | 5 |
| 2008 | GT1 | Corvette Racing | 238 | 1st | 8 | 4 |
| 2009 | GT | Corvette Racing | 86 | 6th | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | GT | Corvette Racing | 103 | 6th | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | GT | Corvette Racing | 135 | 2nd | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | GT | Corvette Racing | 121 | 3rd | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | GT | Corvette Racing | 135 | 1st | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | 293 | 9th | 4 | 1 |
| 2015 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | 295 | 3rd | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | 319 | 3rd | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | 334 | 1st | 3 | 1 |
| 2018 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | 322 | 1st | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | 317 | 3rd | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | GTLM | Corvette Racing | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | GTD | MDK Motorsports | 250 | 26th | 0 | 0 |