Kevin Magnussen will make his return to endurance after a season in the discipline in 2021. The former Haas F1 driver will drive for BMW in LMDh, first in IMSA for the 24 Hours of Daytona, then in WEC to compete in particular the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“In 2021, I had a lot of fun” Magnussen said of his first stint in endurance racing. “It’s just a way to have fun. It’s not that I don’t have fun in Formula 1, but it’s different.”
“It’s very intense in F1. In 2021, it was good to go back to basics, in a way, and race for fun. It opened my eyes a bit. You You can definitely do that and look forward to having a little more fun.”
Magnussen is pleased that each prototype has its own identity despite restrictive regulations for the LMDh category: “I think it’s a good thing because we’re seeing an era of sports cars where every car has a clear identity.”
“And as someone who is passionate about automobiles or racing cars, it’s cool to see these racing cars and they are completely equal. I think they will become even more equal. There are some fantastic manufacturers, amazing brands fighting against each other I think it’s pretty sexy.”
Despite an interest in IndyCar, Magnussen chose endurance to stay in Europe, and he is not sure if he will keep a link with F1: “I’ve spoken with IndyCar teams. I think after all these years in Formula 1, IndyCar is extremely attractive from a driver’s point of view.”
“The competition there is fantastic, the tracks, the cars, everything is so cool. But I think moving to the States with my family, it just wasn’t practical. So it’s a good thing to race there. “Next year, you know, I’m happy to come back to sports car racing.”
“You know, that’s kind of where I grew up, my dad racing sports cars for as long as I can remember. I knew the tracks and the big races there. In a way, it’s like coming home.”
“I’m still talking with Ayao Komatsu about doing something with the team next year. I don’t think I’ll be attending many races, if any. I’ll be busy with BMW and other things .”
BMW has not yet announced the full program, and Magnussen already has ideas: “Daytona will be the first race and BMW will then announce the rest of the program. I spoke with Vincent Vosse, the owner of the WRT team, who manages the BMW team in the WEC. I have known him since I was little. So the contact has always existed. I have always known him.”
