Kevin Magnussen Relishing ‘Real Racing’ Return as BMW Start Daytona 24 Hours on Pole
Read next: Formula 1 World Champions — A legacy of racing legends
Kevin Magnussen returns to the world of sportscar racing with BMW for the Daytona 24 Hours, starting from pole position. Learn about his transition from F1 to IMSA, his excitement for competitive racing, and his chance for success at Daytona.
Kevin Magnussen is relishing the opportunity to return to "real racing" as he embarks on his first major sportscar event since stepping away from Formula 1. The Danish driver, who has now almost certainly concluded his F1 career, is competing in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona with BMW’s LMDh programme, starting from pole position in the prestigious race.
Magnussen's Return to Sportscar Racing
Magnussen, a familiar face in Formula 1 and previous standout in IMSA racing, has transitioned back to sportscar racing after completing his second stint with Haas F1. He first competed in the Daytona 24 Hours in 2021 with Chip Ganassi’s Cadillac team, where he impressed as a strong contender for victory. Unfortunately, a puncture hindered their challenge that year.
Now back in the world of sportscars with BMW, Magnussen is ready for a fresh challenge at Daytona. This time, he is part of the driver lineup for BMW’s pole-sitting #24 car, which topped qualifying thanks to Dries Vanthoor’s exceptional performance, posting a 1:33.895 time. The pole position gives Magnussen and his team a solid chance to compete for the win in this iconic race.
Magnussen’s Excitement for ‘Real Racing’ in IMSA
For Magnussen, this return to racing represents a shift from the high-pressure, short sprints of Formula 1 to the long, endurance-focused challenges of sportscar racing. While Formula 1 remains a pinnacle of motorsport, Magnussen has long considered himself a "racing driver" above all else, and IMSA's endurance races offer a refreshing new chapter in his career.
“I’m very much looking forward to going into something that I feel is real racing, if you want – not to take anything away from Formula 1, but for me, it’s kind of been- there are Formula 1 drivers and then there are racing drivers,” Magnussen said in an interview with Autoweek. “And I’ve always felt like a racing driver – also a Formula 1 driver, but very much a racing driver.”
Competitive Environment at Daytona
Transitioning from F1’s competitive midfield to the front of the field in IMSA has Magnussen anticipating a different racing dynamic. He’s excited about being much more competitive in a series where more teams have a realistic shot at victory, compared to the limited opportunities for success often faced in the midfield of Formula 1.
“Where I came from [F1], only 10 first cars get points,” Magnussen said. “Here, it’s a long race. You need to keep the car clean. Of course, if you’re fighting for the win at the very end, you go for it. That’s clear. But it is a very different situation with BMW. I’m going to be much, much more competitive, I think, towards the front of the field, than I’ve been in Formula 1.”
The Challenge of Endurance Racing
In contrast to the sprint-style races in F1, the Daytona 24 Hours presents a unique challenge. With its grueling 24-hour format, endurance racing requires a different mindset, with careful attention paid to vehicle preservation and strategic pit stops.
Magnussen, who has raced in IMSA before, knows the challenge all too well. He describes the early laps of the Daytona 24 Hours as an exciting but chaotic experience, with drivers eager to get into the race. "It’s a little bit like they let the cows on the grass in the beginning of year and sometimes they get a little bit excited, even though there’s 24 hours to go on the first lap,” he said.
Adapting to Hybrid Sportscars
As Magnussen shifts gears to sportscar racing with BMW’s LMDh programme, he faces the technical challenge of adjusting to the complex hybrid systems used in the current generation of endurance racing cars. After a late finish to his F1 season, Magnussen had limited time to prepare for the Daytona 24 Hours, but he’s making steady progress through intense testing and communication with the engineers.
“It’s a big challenge, because one of the biggest races is the first one [in IMSA],” Magnussen explained. “I’ve come straight off from one season that finishes very late in the year. So actually, I’ve not had that much progression. I had a test in Qatar with the WEC car, basically the same [car], a simulator day and then just communicating with all the engineers trying to memorise everything and get into all the wording of all the different systems. It’s a lot of studying. I’m trying to remember it all.”
Magnussen’s Optimism with BMW’s Strength
Despite the challenge of adjusting to hybrid machinery, Magnussen is confident that BMW’s strength and stability will allow him to contend for race wins. The team’s commitment to high-level engineering and a strong operational structure gives Magnussen confidence as he looks to compete in classic endurance races like the Daytona 24 Hours.
“I think it’s important to be with a big manufacturer where the funding is there and the stability is there, and you know that the operation is going to be proper,” he said. “With BMW, there is a lot of strength there, so I’m really looking forward to it. I’m hoping that we can fight for wins in some of these big classic races that everyone wants to win!”
Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona – The Road Ahead
The Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona is one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world, and with Magnussen starting from pole, his chances of success are high. As the race gets underway, Magnussen and his BMW team will look to secure a victory in this challenging, 24-hour test of speed and strategy. The race kicks off at 18:40 UK time on Saturday evening.
Up Next
