Photo: Kevin Magnussen
Danish prospect to get simulator time and young driver test mileage with F1 team alongside Formula Renault 3.5 racing programme…
Kevin Magnussen has been given an improved role within McLaren’s young driver programme for the coming season. 19-year-old Kevin is the son of Jan Magnussen, who was a test driver for the team and did one race for them during the 1995 season.
He joined the books of the Woking-based outfit in 2010, a year where he finished third in the German F3 Cup standings. Last year he raced in British F3, and won seven races on his way to the runner-up spot. This year he will contest Formula Renault 3.5 with the champion Carlin team.
In his new role with McLaren, Kevin will work together with existing test drivers Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey in the simulator, helping the team with the development of its car. At the end of the year he will get the chance to drive the MP4-27 during the annual Young Driver Test.
?I?m really pleased by this new deal with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,? said Kevin. ?The team has shown great faith in me so far and I feel that this is an important step in my career. F1 is a highly pressured, data-driven environment, and anyone who wants to get there and succeed within it has to master all the technical aspects of the discipline. This is a great opportunity.?
?Racing is the core business of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,? said team principal Martin Whitmarsh. ?By enabling talented drivers to fulfil their potential, our Driver Development Programme is a strategic investment in the future of that business and the sport as a whole. We?ve been delighted by Kevin?s progress, aptitude and work ethic thus far. The time was right for him to take the next step and we look forward to helping him gain the experience he requires.?
Click here to see our driver profile of Kevin from last September.