MOTORSPORT GREATS

Kevin Magnussen’s dad was great, whatever his slim Formula 1 record may suggest. A world karting champion, Jan Magnussen won the Formula Ford Festival in 1992, then set a new record in

British Formula 3 by winning 14 races from 18 starts in 1994 (as

Kevin watched from his buggy). Signed by Mercedes-benz to race in the DTM, he made his F1 debut for Mclaren in late 1995.

When Paul and Jackie Stewart took their team into F1 for 1997, they signed Magnussen alongside Rubens Barrichello – only for the Dane’s performances to spiral down with his confidence. He was dropped after seven races in 1998, despite scoring his first point in his final grand prix. But a colourful sports car career revived his spirits, first with Panoz, where he and David Brabham took on and beat the mighty Audi R8s; then with Corvette for a long and happy stint in GTS, winning his class at the Le Mans 24 Hours three times in a row, later adding a fourth. Still only 48, Magnussen remains a hugely popular figure – even if (or rather because) his irreverence and loose approach to the sport that he loves meant he never fitted the F1 driver template.