Le Mans (AFP)

One, Kevin, made a career in Formula 1, the other, Jan, marked Endurance with his name.

But the roads of the Magnussen father and son cross in this 89th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which begins on Saturday, which they will compete in the same car for the first time.

"It's already a dream come true," says Kevin Magnussen, referring to being able to race with his father in LMP2 for High Class Racing, in a trio also made up of another Dane, Anders Fjordbach.

And what better than Le Mans to make this dream come true together?

If Kevin, 28, is what we can call a new kid, the Sarthe circuit is not unknown to him either: "Le Mans has always been part of my life, since my father took part in the race. I watched it every year at my house or here. I feel like I know how it goes. And it's fantastic to go and do something in real life while you watched the event at television ".

- Kevin's new life -

The general public knew him on the F1 side, with seven seasons including four with Haas, the American team left at the end of 2020. He then turned to Endurance and the IMSA championship in the United States, for Chip Ganassi Racing .

He will join Peugeot in 2022 as a Hypercar driver, the premier class of the World Championship (WEC), of which the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the flagship event.

Kevin Magnussen driving a Haas F1 during testing for the Abu Dhabi GP at the Yas Marina circuit, December 12, 2020 KAMRAN JEBREILI POOL / AFP / Archives

Meanwhile, in June, in Detroit, Kevin won his first race in the American Championship.

He admits: "It's so good to win again".

“Formula 1 is great in a lot of ways. But if you're a racing driver you want to be competitive. In F1, if you don't have the right car, it's very difficult, if not impossible. Now, I can go to every race and dream of winning. "

Jan Magnussen, 48, is enjoying success at Le Mans.

In 22 participations in the classic Le Mans, he was a four-time winner in the LMGTS (1) then LMGT1 (3) category.

According to him, the two men, who are only 20 years apart, can complement each other: “Kevin brings a lot of experience to working with engineers, how to get the best out of the car. I think a lot of people were thinking that I would teach him a lot but so far it has been the other way around. I feel lucky to be doing it with him and what I can learn. "

- the "fastest grandfather in the world" -

Kevin Magnussen, for his part, is delighted that his father let him "develop his career".

"I see other drivers who have racing fathers. They tend to be very involved. There, my father was leading his career at the same time as me and suddenly it was different. I think it's positive. . "

From there not to give him advice?

"I gave him advice all his life," replies the father.

"But he only retains 2 or 3%," he adds, laughing.

Kevin Magnussen listens to the advice of his father Jan with whom he is involved in endurance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, August 19, 2021 JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP

As a last wink of this "new stage" in his life, Kevin also became a father for the first time in January.

So, while waiting to see his daughter perhaps join the family crew in a few years, he will take advantage of the moment and try to aim for victory with Jan, "arguably the fastest grandfather in the world".

© 2021 AFP