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Jan Magnussen

Jan Ellegaard Magnussen (born 4 July 1973) is a Danish professional racing driver renowned for his accomplishments in and . Magnussen began his motorsport career in karting, becoming the Danish national champion at age 12 and repeating the title the following year. He progressed through junior formulas, including British Formula 3, before entering in 1995 with for one race, followed by a full season in 1997 and partial in 1998 with the Stewart team, accumulating 24 starts and one championship point with a career-best sixth-place finish. From 2004 to 2019, Magnussen served as a factory driver for General Motors' Corvette Racing program in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and later the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, competing in 156 races and securing 35 victories, including two ALMS GT1 championships in 2008 and 2013. His endurance racing highlights include three consecutive GT1 class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2004 to 2006, along with class victories at events like the 12 Hours of Sebring. Magnussen is the father of former Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen, and he has occasionally competed in other series, such as NASCAR and historic racing events post-retirement from full-time professional driving.

Personal life

Early life

Jan Magnussen was born on 4 July 1973 in , . 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. His early interests included football, but at the age of 11 in 1984, he transitioned to karting, marking his initial exposure to motorsport. Magnussen's karting journey began informally before he entered competition the following year at age 12. In , he claimed his first Danish national karting championship title, a feat he repeated in 1986. 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. His rapid progression in karting highlighted his natural talent, culminating in international recognition with a World Junior Karting title in at his debut attempt.

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, (born October 5, 1992), from a previous marriage; Kevin is a professional racing driver who has competed in . The Magnussen family has left a lasting mark on Danish through multi-generational involvement and collaborative efforts in high-profile events. Jan and have teamed up for joint racing appearances, including the 2021 in the LMP2 class with High Class Racing, where they finished 29th overall; the 2022 Gulf 12 Hours at , securing a top-10 result. These outings highlight the family's mutual support and shared passion for endurance racing. Notable family milestones include Jan's guidance during Kevin's entry into with in 2014, drawing on his own brief stint in the series to provide emotional and practical support amid the high pressures of a season. , 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 with Fortec Motorsport.

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. In 1992, he relocated to the to compete in the 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 at . Also in 1992, Magnussen ventured into the series, where he recorded four wins, demonstrating his rapid adaptation to more competitive environments. 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. In 1993, he also participated in the Formula Opel Lotus Euroseries, earning three victories and seven podiums to end fourth overall. 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. A highlight of Magnussen's junior career came in November 1994 when he competed in the prestigious , finishing third behind winner Sascha Maassen and Kelvin Burt, further solidifying his reputation as one of Europe's top emerging talents.

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 at TI Aida, substituting for the unwell in the -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 that year, after which Häkkinen returned to the seat. 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 . In 1997, he transitioned to a full-time role with the newly formed team, partnering in the Ford-powered SF1; the squad, backed by , aimed to build from scratch amid a competitive midfield. Magnussen entered all 17 races that season but started only 16 after a DNS in , hampered by mechanical unreliability and managing only sporadic points-contending runs without scoring. 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 and Sauber. His standout performance was a sixth-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix in , 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 after the Canadian Grand Prix, ending his F1 driving career. 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 —hinted at untapped talent that later flourished in other series.

Open-wheel racing in

Following his departure from 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 and at Marlboro Team Penske and Hogan Penske Racing, competing in four races with a best finish of 8th at the Molson Indy ; he completed all events without scoring points, gaining valuable experience in the series' mix of road courses and ovals. Magnussen's more substantial involvement came in 1999 with , where he drove the No. 20 Visteon-sponsored Reynard 99i-Ford for the final seven races after replacing the injured . 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 —highlighting his relative strength on ovals compared to his overall struggles in the series' high-speed, pack-racing environment. On road courses like and Surfers Paradise, he showed promise with consistent midfield finishes, but incidents such as contact with at limited his progress. Over his career spanning 11 starts across 1996 and 1999, Magnussen accumulated 8 points without a , often hampered by mechanical issues and the 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 where he found greater success with prototypes.

Sports car and endurance racing

Magnussen transitioned to in 1999, making his debut in the (ALMS) with Motor Sports in the LMP900 class aboard the front-engine . 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. That same year, Magnussen entered the 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. His endurance career flourished after joining 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 through 2023, he formed a particularly successful partnership with Antonio García starting in 2011, contributing to GT championships in 2008 and 2013, as well as WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans (GTLM) titles in 2017 and 2018. Magnussen's most prominent successes came at the , where he competed 23 times through 2023, securing four class victories in the GT1/GTE Pro categories—all with . His breakthrough arrived in 2004, winning GT1 with Olivier Beretta and Oliver in the No. 64 Corvette C5-R, finishing sixth overall after a reliable run that highlighted the car's balance on the . This triumph initiated a three-year consecutive GT1 class winning streak in 2005 and 2006, again with Beretta and , 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. 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.

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. 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 GT Series seasons in an 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 Speedway in , driving a 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.

Other racing appearances

Magnussen ventured into with a one-off appearance in the at the 2010 at , driving the No. 09 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing and finishing 12th after starting 32nd. In 2005, Magnussen made guest appearances in the European Touring Car Championship's Division 2, competing for in a , though specific results from those events are limited in records. Magnussen participated in the inaugural season of TCR Denmark in 2019, driving a 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. In 1997, Magnussen made a one-off appearance in the with the , marking an early foray into grand touring prototypes amid his commitments. Magnussen competed in historic racing at the 2025 , sharing a Mk.3B GT from 1969 with Chris Ward for entry No. 58, securing 2nd place in their category (Plateau 5).

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 , endurance racing, and GT categories to guide emerging talent. In March 2024, he was appointed as driver development manager at Motorsports, overseeing programs in the North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America. 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. His responsibilities also include monitoring team workflows, identifying inefficiencies, and contributing to overall driver and crew optimization across MDK's multi-series entries. 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, , from junior formulae through to a successful tenure with the Haas team from 2014 to 2016 and 2021 to 2024. Similarly, he supports his younger son, Luca Magnussen, who at age 15 made his car racing debut in the 2025 season with Fortec Motorsport after securing a Danish karting title in 2023. In 2025, Magnussen continued his work with MDK Motorsports while expanding his mentorship scope through a new with fellow Danish expert Tommy Schröter. This partnership emphasizes talent development and high-level coaching for Danish drivers, aiming to foster the next generation in international series. Drawing from his background as a four-time winner and former factory driver, Magnussen's advisory input helps bridge technical expertise with practical race strategy for protégés.

Notable achievements and records

Jan Magnussen holds the record for the most starts at the by a Danish driver, with 24 participations as of 2025. He achieved four class victories in the event, securing GT1 wins in 2004, 2005, and 2006 with , followed by an LMGT1 triumph in 2009. These successes highlight his endurance in GT categories, where he also earned nine class podiums and a best overall finish of fourth place. 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 , , driving a GT3 Evo for Stateta BRO by HMobile. In 2024, Magnussen was inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame alongside Oliver Gavin for his contributions to . He continues to make occasional appearances in historic and events. Magnussen's career exemplifies bridging elite open-wheel racing with endurance disciplines, having competed in , CART/Champ Car, and multiple classes while maintaining competitiveness into his 50s. His legacy extends through his son , forming one of motorsport's notable father-son duos in F1, with both debuting for McLaren-Mercedes. Magnussen's ongoing coaching roles and recent victories underscore his enduring influence in nurturing Danish talent and sustaining a presence in international GT racing.

Racing results

Formula One results

Jan Magnussen participated in two seasons of , making one start in 1995 for and seven starts in 1998 for Stewart. His only points finish came in 1998 with a sixth place at the Canadian . The table below details his race-by-race results, including grid positions, finishing positions, and points scored.
YearGrand PrixTeamGridFinishPointsNotes
1995PacificMcLaren-Mercedes12100+2 laps
1998AustralianStewart-Ford19Ret0Collision on lap 1
1998BrazilianStewart-Ford19100+2 laps
1998ArgentineStewart-Ford19120+1 lap
1998Stewart-Ford19Ret0Engine failure on lap 13
1998Stewart-Ford19DSQ0Finished 7th but disqualified for shortcut at chicane
1998SpanishStewart-Ford19120+3 laps
1998CanadianStewart-Ford1961+1:11.835
Magnussen did not start any other races during these seasons and earned a total of 1 championship point.

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/ and 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 engines in 1996 and Ford engines in 1999, but did not attempt the during his time in the series. He had no entries in /Champ Car from 2000 to 2003.

Season-by-Season Summary

YearTeam(s)RacesPolesWinsPodiumsPointsStandingEngine Supplier
1996Penske/Hogan4000524thMercedes
1999Patrick Racing7000824thFord

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.
RaceTrackStartFinishLapsStatusPoints
13Mid-Ohio181481Running0
1410260Contact0
15192248Fire0
1616883Running5

1999 Detailed Results

In 1999, Magnussen contested seven races for in the No. 20 Reynard 99I-Ford, starting his campaign from the Belle Isle round and achieving a best finish of 7th at . His season was hampered by mechanical issues and accidents, including a at . Finishing positions: 18th (Belle Isle), 14th (Mid-Ohio), 24th (, contact), 7th (), 17th (, transmission), 13th (), 11th (Surfers Paradise).

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Jan Magnussen has competed in the annually since 2001, primarily in 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 from 2004 to 2006, followed by another in 2009, contributing to the team's strong presence in the event. Retirements due to mechanical issues or accidents were common in his early efforts, while later GT campaigns yielded consistent contention despite occasional DNFs from crashes or reliability problems. 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.
YearClassTeamCo-driversQualifying (Class)Race Finish (Class/Overall)LapsNotes
2001LMP900 Motor Sports, Éric LagorceNot availableDNF / -Not availableRetired due to mechanical failure.
2002LMP900 Motor Sports, Not availableDNF / -Not availableRetired due to accident or mechanical issue.
2003LMP1 Sport Japan Marco Werner, Seiji AraNot available2nd / 4th377Strong prototype performance with factory support.
2004GT1Oliver Gavin, Olivier BerettaNot available1st / 6th374First class win, highlighting Corvette's GT dominance.
2005GT1Oliver Gavin, Olivier BerettaNot available1st / 5th357Consecutive class victory amid shortened race due to rain.
2006GT1Oliver Gavin, Olivier BerettaNot available1st / 4th360Third straight class win, best overall result in GT era.
2009GT1Johnny O'Connell, Antonio GarciaNot available1st / 11th354Fourth class win in final GT1 appearance for C6.R.
2011GTE ProJordan Taylor, Max MartinNot availableDNF / -211Retired after crash while leading class.
2014GTE ProAntonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor1st2nd / 23rd351 but settled for runner-up after strategy battles.
2016GTE ProAntonio Garcia, Not available7th / 25th336Solid finish despite one lap down in competitive field.
2021LMP2High Class Racing, Nicolás LapierreNot available6th / 18th362Family debut in prototypes, reliable run in LMP2.
2023LMP2Not availableNot availableDNF / -Not availableReturned to LMP2 but retired early due to mechanical issues.
Magnussen's Le Mans career transitioned from challenging LMP efforts in the early to GT class success with , where he secured all four victories, before a brief LMP2 stint later on. His 9 class podiums underscore a consistent threat in racing.

IMSA SportsCar Championship results

Jan Magnussen's involvement in the spanned over two decades, beginning with prototype racing in 2001 and transitioning to a highly successful tenure in GT classes with from 2004 onward. His career in the series, which encompassed the (ALMS), Grand American Road Racing Association (Grand-Am), and the unified WeatherTech SportsCar Championship after their 2014 merger, featured 35 class victories and five championships, primarily in GT/GTLM categories. Magnussen's expertise in events and consistent performances with co-drivers like Gavin and Antonio García established him as one of the series' most accomplished drivers.
YearClassTeamPointsPositionWinsPoles
2001LMP900Panoz Motor Sports1595th20
2004GTCorvette Racing268th10
2005GTCorvette Racing457th10
2006GTCorvette Racing457th10
2007GTCorvette Racing1842nd35
2008GT1Corvette Racing2381st84
2009GTCorvette Racing866th11
2010GTCorvette Racing1036th10
2011GTCorvette Racing1352nd10
2012GTCorvette Racing1213rd02
2013GTCorvette Racing1351st30
2014GTLMCorvette Racing2939th41
2015GTLMCorvette Racing2953rd20
2016GTLMCorvette Racing3193rd11
2017GTLMCorvette Racing3341st31
2018GTLMCorvette Racing3221st01
2019GTLMCorvette Racing3173rd00
2020GTLMCorvette RacingN/AN/A00
2022GTLMCorvette RacingN/AN/A00
2023GTDMDK Motorsports25026th00
Magnussen's early prototype stint in 2001 with Motor Sports in the LMP900 class yielded two wins at and Mid-Ohio, co-driven by in the LMP-1 Roadster S, marking a strong debut in American endurance racing. His shift to GT classes in 2004 with , piloting the alongside and Olivier , led to a Watkins Glen victory and set the stage for a dominant partnership that lasted 17 seasons. The duo's consistency propelled Corvette to multiple titles, including the 2008 ALMS GT1 drivers' championship, where Magnussen secured eight wins in the C6.R. Key highlights include three GT class victories at the : a 2009 win in the GT1 category with Beretta and Gavin in the C6.R, a runner-up finish in 2011, and a podium in 2013 before clinching the overall GTLM win in 2015 with Antonio and in the C7.R. At the , Magnussen excelled with five class triumphs—2006, 2008, 2009 in GT1/GT with , plus 2015 and 2017 in GTLM—demonstrating his prowess on the demanding circuit. His 2013 ALMS GT title with in the C6.R featured three wins, while the 2017 and 2018 GTLM championships came in the C7.R, with the latter achieved without a race victory through consistent s. Additionally, the 2015 Michelin Endurance Cup title highlighted his endurance focus. He resumed GTLM duties with in 2022 before concluding his full-time efforts in 2023 with select appearances for Motorsports in the GTD class aboard a Porsche 911 GT3 R, accumulating 250 points across eight races.

Other series results

Magnussen dominated the 1994 British Formula 3 season, securing the championship title with Paul Stewart Racing by achieving a record 14 victories out of 18 races, surpassing Ayrton Senna's previous single-season mark of 12 wins. In the 1995 DTM, driving for AMG-Mercedes, Magnussen finished eighth in the drivers' standings with 49 points, highlighted by podium finishes including second place at the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring rounds. Magnussen made select appearances in the Supercars Championship, primarily at the Bathurst 1000. In 2003, he competed for Team Dynamik but retired after spinning off early in the race. His strongest result came in 2019, partnering Paul Morris for Hollymatic Racing in a Holden Commodore ZB, where they qualified 27th and finished 11th overall, three laps down on the leaders. Magnussen entered the inaugural 2020 TCR season with LM Racing in a GTI TCR, finishing fourth in the drivers' standings with 215 points across seven rounds, including a victory at Jyllandsringen. For the , Magnussen joined High Class Racing in the LMP2 class, forming an all-Danish lineup with Dennis Andersen and Fjordbach in an 07-Gibson. The team contested six rounds excluding , with best results of ninth at Spa-Francorchamps, , and , culminating in 12th in the LMP2 class at the season-ending race. Magnussen's sole NASCAR Sprint Cup Series outing was the 2010 at , driving the #09 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing. Starting 32nd, he completed all 110 laps to finish 12th, earning 110 points in a one-off appearance he later described as one of his career highlights. In 2023, Magnussen secured a GT3 victory at the 1006 km race in , driving a GT3 Evo. At the 2025 , Magnussen co-drove a 1969 Mk.3B GT with Chris Ward, finishing second in their class during a race section featuring competitors like the M and B19.