Corvette Racing Driver Profile: Jan Magnussen

Jan Magnussen Birthdate: July 4, 1973
Birthplace: Roskilde, Denmark
Residence: Roskilde, Denmark
Family: Wife Christina, son Kevin
Notable: Three class wins in 24 Hours of Le Mans, 14 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 LMP-1
2000 12 1 0 Panoz LMP-1
2001 8 2 0 Panoz LMP-1
2002 10 2 0 Panoz LMP-1
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 GT1 championship
Total 63 14 6  


24 Hours of Le Mans Record
Year Finish Class Car Co-drivers
1999 10th 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, Ata
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


Career Highlights
    Career Highlights
  • 1987-88: FIA/CIK Junior World Karting champion
  • 1990: FIA/CIK Formula K champion
  • 1992: Formula Ford Brands Hatch Festival champion
  • 1994: British Formula 3 champion (14 wins)
  • 1995-96: Competed in DTM (Mercedes)
  • 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

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 wit 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.

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 m t 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 competed in selected Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series races in a Pontiac-powered Daytona Prototype, and in the Danish Touring Car series. 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.