Luca Magnussen on First GB4 Podium: “An Amazing Feeling”

The third round of the GB4 Championship marked a major milestone for Luca Magnussen, who secured his first podium finish and continues his steady development with Fortec Motorsports. Up next: Snetterton.

The weekend brought mixed results for the young Dane – but it will undoubtedly be remembered for his first-ever podium in the fiercely competitive British junior championship. In a wet and dramatic opening race at Oulton Park, the SASHI Beef Lover-backed driver charged from 11th on the grid to cross the line in a commanding second place.

The podium came under challenging conditions, with heavy rain beginning to fall just moments before the race start. A spot-on tyre choice paved the way for a strong performance by the 15-year-old.

“It was an amazing experience! It’s a huge step going from outside the top 10 at Silverstone to suddenly fighting for the podium, so it feels really good,” said Luca Magnussen.

"The weather was really difficult to predict, and we weren’t sure if we’d made the right call when I lined up on the grid with wet tyres. Many of the others were ready on slicks. But just before the start, the rain came pouring down, and the first lap was total chaos. I just tried to find space and grip – and it worked! I went from P11 to leading the race, which felt absolutely incredible. I didn’t quite have the pace to hold onto the lead and fight for the win, but finishing second is definitely not something to complain about,” he added.

In Monday’s second race of the weekend, Magnussen finished 13th after another challenging contest, where his focus was on defending position in the midfield.

The third and final race brought yet another weather twist – and this time, the gamble didn’t pay off. As light rain began to fall during the formation lap, Magnussen – who was due to start from pole position – followed most of the field into the pitlane to switch from slicks to wet tyres. This forced him to start the race from the back of a long pitlane queue, and he was unable to recover positions before the chequered flag.

Despite the ups and downs, the weekend was a clear step forward in the Dane’s rookie season. With his first trophy now in hand, Magnussen has shown he has the potential to fight at the front of the field.

"Of course, I would’ve liked to have more top results by this point and be higher up in the standings, but the most important thing is that I’m progressing. There’s been a lot of improvement – both in the car and in my work with the team. Getting my first trophy has definitely given me a boost, and I’m excited to keep pushing as the season continues,” added Magnussen.

Luca Magnussen and the Fortec Motorsports team will return to action for round four of the GB4 Championship at Snetterton on July 12–13.