Reigning 2017 and 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTLM Champion Jan Magnussen returns to the site of his last victory with the No. 3 Corvette Racing team when the series rolls into VIRginia International Raceway.
The all-GT round of the championship at VIR means that Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and the entire No. 3 Corvette Racing team get to battle for the overall victory at the Michelin GT Challenge.
Magnussen and Garcia scored back-to-back wins at the event in 2016 and 2017, with the 2017 victory representing the pair’s last win in IMSA competition. Additionally, Magnussen won in 2007 in Grand-Am competition. He also holds the record for most pole positions at VIR amongst active drivers with two—2011 and 2016.
Magnussen and Garcia finished second at VIR last year on their way to claiming two championship titles in a row, and three in a row for Corvette Racing.
The pair currently sit fourth in the 2019 championship with three rounds remaining.
The Michelin GT Challenge at VIR kicks off on Friday with first practice at 11:45 AM Eastern. Qualifying around the 3.27-mile, 17-turn road course is Saturday at 12:50 PM.
Jan Magnussen Q&A
Q: VIR has been good to you guys in the past, what’s the goal this weekend?
A: “We can only really have one goal this weekend, to win the race. We haven’t won since VIR 2017, and it’s definitely time. I think we can take the win at VIR because history says we can, we did it in 2016 and 2017 and finished second last year.
“The championship is definitely still a factor, we’re fourth, and 19 points out of the lead, but it’s going to take a lot of really good results, and some bad luck for our competitors for that to happen.
“A win at VIR would be great because it would put us back in the title fight, it would break this streak of non-wins and, it would be even more special because we get to fight for the overall victory here instead of the prototypes.”
Q: Aside from the chance to make the overall win, what do you like so much about VIR?
A: “It’s not hard to like a track you’re good at!
“But, besides that, VIR is just a real old-school track—those are my favorites. It’s got 17 turns in just over three miles, so you always have to be getting the most of every turn, or you’re going to struggle with lap time. You also have to be careful because there are real consequences for getting it wrong here.
“You really have to toe the line between being aggressive and making up positions and keeping your nose clean. It presents a really fun challenge, especially when driving a car as good as the C7.R is around here.”
Q: After a long stretch of races, how nice was it to take a break after Road America?
A: “It’s always nice to have a chance to go back to Denmark and relax for a few weekends.
“This break was especially great because I got to see my son, Kevin, get married! It was such a wonderful time for all of us.
“But, I’m also really excited to get back behind the wheel. Breaks are good, they’re definitely necessary to make sure you perform your best, but I love driving and racing and so after a few weekends off, I’m itching to be back at the track and back with the Corvette Racing team.”
Source. Jan Magnussen
Sportscar Racing News 
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