Magnussen excited by "chance of winning" ahead of Daytona debut

Kevin Magnussen

Magnussen excited by "chance of winning" ahead of Daytona debut

Magnussen has made the switch from F1 to IMSA for the 2021 season

Ewan Gale

Friday 29 January 2021 11:38

Former McLaren, Renault and Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen has conceded he is excited at the "chance of winning" again in the IMSA sportscar championship.

Magnussen left Haas at the end of last season after a four-year association with the team, bringing an end to his F1 career.

The Dane, however, has followed in his father's footsteps and made the switch to America for a campaign in the IMSA championship, driving for the famous Chip Ganassi team in the top Daytona Prototype class.

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"Chip Ganassi Racing is a hugely successful team in many different race series, a team that has a lot of experience and success in this category," said Magnussen.

"Just the thought of being able to look forward to a season where I know I have a chance of winning is just a really good feeling and I am looking forward to it

"I think racing in America, my dad has been racing in America for 20 years and I have been watching him at many races and always enjoyed the atmosphere and been very curious about these tracks because they are amazing tracks.

"I am really looking forward to it."

Magnussen makes his endurance racing bow this weekend in the 24 Hours at Daytona, partnering two-time defending race winner Renger van der Zande and six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon in Florida.

The experience around him in the #1 car means Magnussen knows he will feel looked after.

"I have Renger in the car next to me, I've worked with him a little bit before, in 2009," added Magnussen

"He was in F3 [Euro Series] and I was in [Renault] 2.0, we were in the same team and I was really looking up to him as a young kid, he’s five or six years older than me.

"I’ll try to learn as much as I can from him again, he has been super successful in sportscars and has a lot of experience, so I will be taken care of I’m sure."