Birthdate: July 4, 1973
Birthplace: Roskilde, Denmark
Residence: Roskilde, Denmark
Family: Wife Christina, son Kevin
Notable: 2008 ALMS GT1 co-champion, four class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans, 22 career ALMS wins, former Formula 1 driver, twice voted "Most Popular Driver" in ALMS
Web site: www.janmagnusssen.com
American Le Mans Series Career Record |
||||
Year |
Starts |
Wins |
Fast Qualifier |
Notes |
1999 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
Drove Panoz LMP1 |
2000 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
Panoz LMP1 |
2001 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
Panoz LMP1 |
2002 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
Panoz LMP1 |
2003 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
Prodrive Ferrari 550 |
2004 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Corvette C5-R (endurance races only) |
2005 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Corvette C6.R (endurance races only) |
2006 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Corvette C6.R (endurance races only) |
2007 |
12 |
3 |
4 |
Runner-up in ALMS GT1 championship |
2008 |
11 |
8 |
4 |
ALMS GT1 co-champion (with O'Connell) |
Total |
74 |
22 |
10 |
|
24 Hours of Le Mans Record |
||||
Year |
Finish |
Class |
Car |
Co-drivers |
1999 |
9th |
LMP1 |
Panoz |
O'Connell, Angelelli |
2000 |
8th |
LMP900 |
Panoz |
Brabham, Andretti |
2001 |
Rtd. |
LMP900 |
Panoz |
Brabham, Lagorce |
2002 |
Rtd. |
LMP900 |
Panoz |
Brabham, Helary |
2003 |
2nd |
LMP900 |
Audi |
Werner, Ara |
2004 |
1st |
GTS |
Corvette C5-R |
Beretta, Gavin |
2005 |
1st |
GT1 |
Corvette C6.R |
Beretta, Gavin |
2006 |
1st |
GT1 |
Corvette C6.R |
Beretta, Gavin |
2007 |
2nd |
GT1 |
Corvette C6.R |
O'Connell, Fellows |
2008 |
2nd |
GT1 |
Corvette C6.R |
O'Connell, Fellows |
2009 |
1st |
GT1 |
Corvette C6.R |
O'Connell, Garcia |
Career Highlights
1987-89: FIA/CIK Junior World Karting champion
1990: FIA/CIK Formula K champion
1992: Formula Ford Brands Hatch Festival champion
1994: British Formula 3 champion (record 14 wins)
1995-96: Competed in DTM/ITC (Mercedes), second in 1995 ITC
1996: competed in CART championship (Penske)
1997-98: Stewart Grand Prix Formula 1 driver
1999: Competed in CART championship (Patrick Racing)
1999-2003: Eight wins in American Le Mans Series (Panoz, Ferrari)
2003: Danish Touring Car Champion (Peugeot)
2004: 24 Hours of Le Mans GTS winner, Petit Le Mans GTS winner (Corvette C5-R, Gavin and Beretta co-drivers)
2005: 24 Hours of Le Mans GT1 winner, Petit Le Mans winner (Corvette C6.R, Gavin and Beretta co-drivers). Also competed in Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series (three GT wins in Pontiac GTO.R) and Danish Touring Car series (five victories), named "Danish Racing Driver of the Year".
2006: 24 Hours of Le Mans GT1 winner, Sebring 12-hour winner (Corvette C6.R, Gavin and Beretta co-drivers). Also competed in Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series (Pontiac GTO.R and Daytona Prototype) and Danish Touring Car series.
2007: First season as full-time driver for Corvette Racing. Teamed with Johnny O'Connell, won three races (Houston, Mosport, Detroit) and four poles. Ran fastest race lap at six events. Second in GT1 in 24 Hours of Le Mans.
2008: Won ALMS GT1 championship (with O'Connell) for first time; eight ALMS victories (including Sebring 12-hour and 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans endurance races) and four fast qualifiers; runner-up in GT1 class at 24 Hours of Le Mans for second consecutive year. Won Danish Touring Car Series championship.
Jan Magnussen is a sports superstar in his native Denmark after winning races and championships in machines ranging from single-seaters to touring cars. He played a key role in Corvette's championship seasons in 2004-07, teaming with Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in endurance events for three years. The trio won the GT1 class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans three consecutive years in 2004-06, and won the Petit Le Mans in 2004-05. In 2007, Magnussen became a full-time driver for Corvette Racing and ran the entire ALMS schedule with Johnny O'Connell in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, joined by Ron Fellows for long-distance events. O'Connell and Magnussen teamed up to win the 2008 ALMS GT1 drivers championship, scoring eight wins in 11 races.
Starting his racing career in karts, Magnussen captured numerous national titles before winning the junior World Karting championship in 1987-89 and the Formula K world title in 1990. He began a successful stint in single-seaters, winning the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in 1992. In 1994, Magnussen captured 14 wins in 18 races for Paul Stewart Racing en route to winning the British Formula 3 championship, beating Ayrton Senna's record for most wins in one season. He also served as a Formula 1 test driver for McLaren before competing in the DTM and ITC touring car championships in 1995-96, finishing second in ITC in 1995. In 1997, Magnussen joined Formula 1 full-time with the Stewart Grand Prix team, highlighted by a career-best sixth place in Montreal in 1998.
Magnussen joined the Panoz factory sports car effort in 1999. He captured six wins in the American-built prototype and established himself as a star in the nascent American Le Mans Series.
In 2004, GM Racing selected Magnussen to join the Corvette Racing program as a third driver for endurance events, teamed with Gavin and Beretta in the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R. He became a full-time driver for Corvette Racing in 2007, scoring three wins, four poles and six fastest race laps.
Magnussen also has competed in selected Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series races in a Pontiac-powered Daytona Prototype and a Pontiac GXP.R in the GT division. He also competes in the Danish Touring Car series, and won the championship in 2008. This versatile driver is the only racer who has won ALMS races driving three different marques - Corvette, Ferrari and Panoz. A fan favorite, Magnussen won the "Most Popular Driver" award in 2001 and 2003. His son, Kevin, is an aspiring race car driver who is following in his father's footsteps with impressive results in European open-wheel competition.
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Contact:
Rick Voegelin
Chevy Racing
Communications