WRT team boss Vincent Vosse says “we didn’t choose Kevin Magnussen because he came from Formula 1” 🍒for its BMW Hypercar programme and feels he “brings fresh blood”.

After 10 seasons in F1, Magnussen found himself without a drive on the grid for the 2025 campaign as Haas elected to refresh its line-up withꦜ Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman.

The one-time grand prix podium fi🉐nisher will switch to sportscar racing this year with famed outfit WRT as part of its BMW Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship.

Magnussen will drive the #15 BMW M Hybrid🍌 V💧8 alongside Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor.

The Dane will do the full eight-round WEC campaign - including the 24 Hours of Le Mans - and the three major IMSA endurance events: the Daytona 24 Hours at the end of January, the Sebr🐈ing 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans.

In an exclusive interview with Crash, WRT team boss Vosse says he could see Magnussen “was still very competitive” in F1 but his experieꦡnce in single-seater racing’s top tier wasn’t the deciding factor in him joining the BMW programme.

“Well, we did not choose Kevin because he came🌠 from Formula ♚1,” he said.

“We chose Kevin bec𓄧aꦍuse we think he was the right guy. On top of it, he comes from Formula 1.

“So, we could see that even in his last season in Formula 1 he was still very competitive💦.

“He could achieve some great results. Of course, he has some sportsca🌠r racing experience.

“And knowing K𝄹evin for a very long time, we think he would be the right gu♉y to take that spot.

“And of course, as you could see, we have reduced the number of drivers in Hypercar to give them more track time, to give them more experience of the car, to move from one championship to another with the🦹 progress we have made.

“Having Kevin with us brings us some fresh blood in BMW but als♏o in WRT, in the WEC programme.

“His first race will be Daytona, of co♐urse, and then his second race will be I guessᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ the WEC in Qatar.”

Magnussen won the Detroit Sportscar Classic in IMSA in 2021 💖with Chip Ganassi Racing, while he was 17th at Le Mans in the LMP2 class.

He will make his WRT debut next weekend when the IMSA season begins at Da♐ytona.