Iconic father-son racing duo, Jan and Kevin Magnussen, take to the Yas Marina Circuit track for this weekend’s Gulf 12 Hours
Abu Dhabi: Four-time Le Mans winner Jan Magnussen and Haas Formula One team driver Kevin Magnussen are joining forces for the 11th edition of the Gulf 12 Hours to be held at Yas Island from December 9 to 11.
The Danish father-son duo will unite on the grid with American driver Mark Kwame at the Yas Marina circuit to compete in the annual endurance event combining day and night racing, which will see the biggest ever line-up of GT cars in the race history.
After starting his career with the McLaren F1 Team’s Young Driver Program, Kevin rose through the junior ranks to represent the British motor racing team in the 2014 F1 Championship and the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, where he claimed a podium in F1. Wale became the first Dane.
After a short stint with Renault in 2016, he got behind the wheel for the Haas F1 team, which recently achieved its first pole position at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. But with a successful career of his own—and an especially busy schedule—the Roskilde racer hasn’t had much opportunity to drive with his father.
“We’ve both done it our whole lives, and you know, done it differently,” he said. “To do this with my dad, it is so special. It is a great privilege; I am grateful to MDK Motorsports and our friend Mark for giving us this opportunity.
Jan, a former F1 driver, shares Kevin’s sentiments and laughs when asked if his son’s speed on track is a result of his coaching.
“Unfortunately, I think I taught him a lot,” he said. “To compare yourself to Kevin is fantastic. Check out the data and video to see not only his great lap times, but also how we operate the car.
Magnussen Sr. has an impressive racing history and has competed in many prestigious championships and series, including F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, the American Le Mans Series, WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Now, the two Danes are bringing their driving experience and bold race moves to Abu Dhabi. While the track will be a first time experience for January, Kevin misses racing at the Yas Marina Circuit in the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – and again in the 2022 edition.
“I think the changes made to the track in the last two years are good for some things,” he said. “I think earlier, it was a bit more technical, so maybe a bit more difficult. Now, the track has become faster and more enjoyable to drive on.
Despite having raced on the circuit before, the second generation F1 driver is about to have an entirely new experience as he steps out of his comfort zone and into an unfamiliar GT car.
“I did it in an F1 car, and GT is going to be completely different. It feels like a new track to me,” he said. “It is fun to be challenged in different ways as a racing driver . That’s what I’m waiting for.”
With scheduling conflicts and international travel keeping them busy, the Magnussens are unsure when they will next drive together. This weekend’s Gulf 12 Hours will be a unique opportunity for the two to share their passion for the sport – with the hopes of winning the race.
“We know each other. When we get into this stuff, it gets competitive, and we want to do as well as possible,” said Kevin. “It’s the most fun, so that’s what we’re really focusing on — me and my dad.”