Fresh from his first series victory at Spa-Francorchamps, Danish Formula Renault 3.5 Series racer and McLaren Young Driver Development Programme member Kevin Magnussen is now targetting a repeat performance this weekend at the Nurburgring in Germany.
The Carlin Racing driver was in fine form at the previous round in Belgium, taking pole position in for both races and victory in the Sunday race. The win hauled him back into championship contention after a run of ill-fortune with three consecutive DNFs.
Magnussen heads to Germany with added confidence after last week sampling Formula 1 machinery for the first time. He was tasked with shaking down Mikka Hakkinen’s 1998 F1 World Championship-winning McLaren MP4-13 at Silverstone which Nick Heidfeld will drive this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Magnussen’s father Jan – himself an ex-McLaren Formula 1 driver – was on hand to see Kevin at the wheel of an F1 car for the first time (pictured above).
Hakkinen won eight races, scored nine poles and recorded six fastest laps aboard the MP4-13 en route to his first Formula 1 championship.
Magnussen got the chance to drive the car as part of his role in the McLaren Young Driver Development Programme.
