Pre Race
Kevin Magnussen is back in his BMW M V8 Hybrid this weekend, as the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place at Spa-Francorchamps. The iconic Belgian race circuit is known for its 7-kilometre-long and challenging layout, pushing drivers to the limit while delivering a thrilling spectacle for the fans. Around 90,000 spectators are expected to attend the race!
“It’s always great to be back at Spa. It’s one of the most iconic and beautiful race tracks you can imagine, and always a huge challenge. I’ve done countless laps here in a Formula 1 car, but it’s a completely different experience in our Hypercar. The field is as close as ever this weekend, and although qualifying didn’t quite go the way we had hoped, we’re looking forward to the race,” says Kevin Magnussen.
K-Mag will share the car with Raffaele Marciello, as their usual third driver, Dries Vanthoor, is racing in the United States this weekend. The BMW duo will start Saturday’s race from 11th on the grid.
“A strong result is important, both for the championship and for our motivation heading into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is our next race,” the Dane adds.
The WEC race at Spa-Francorchamps goes green on Saturday, May 10, at 14:00 local time (GMT +2).
Three spa facts you need to know:
- The six-hour race in Belgium is the final stop before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is therefore considered the dress rehearsal for the legendary French endurance classic.
- The WEC race won’t be Kevin Magnussen’s only challenge at Spa – the Dane will also compete in the famous 24-hour race in June, sharing a BMW M4 with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi!
- ‘Eau Rouge’ is one of the most legendary corners, not only at Spa, but in in the world of motorsport. The name means ‘Red Water’ and refers to the 15-kilometre stream that the track crosses.
Want to follow live? Catch every session on the official FIA WEC App.
Race Day
“Lessons learned – onto Le Mans“
Recap from last weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, where our brand ambassador Kevin Magnussen was back behind the wheel of his BMW Hypercar, fighting for points in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The Dane delivered one of his famous rocket-fast starts, climbing from 11th on the grid to sixth place on the opening lap! Following two strong stints, Magnussen handed the car over to teammate Raffaele Marciello in fourth position – but two drive-through penalties set the BMW crew back.
“It was really unfortunate, especially because we got off to such a strong start. We had great pace and made up several positions early on. Sadly, after those two penalties, it was difficult to recover, and we had to settle for tenth,” said Kevin Magnussen.
“Looking beyond the final result, it’s been a positive weekend in many ways. We had good pace, and we’ve collected a lot of valuable data ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” the Dane added.
Kevin Magnussen is already back in action this week as he participates in the official test ahead of the 24 Hours of Spa next month. But needless to say, the focus is now on the ultimate highlight of the season – the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14–15.
📸 BMW M Motorsport
