Kevin Magnussen targets WEC championship podium at Monza

The Danish BMW factory driver is aiming to finish the FIA World Endurance Championship season on the championship podium as the eighth and final round takes place at Monza this coming weekend.

Kevin Magnussen has the opportunity to conclude his second season as a BMW factory driver with a place on the FIA World Endurance Championship podium when the final round of the season takes place at Monza Circuit in Italy. Alongside his Swiss teammate Raffaele Marciello, the Dane currently holds third place in the Drivers' Championship standings ahead of the finale, with several crews still in contention for the remaining championship trophies.

Monza returns to the WEC calendar for the first time since 2023, and the event will also mark BMW M Team WRT's first race at the legendary Formula 1 circuit with its BMW M Hybrid V8. While competitors such as Ferrari, Toyota and Peugeot have previously raced at Monza in the World Championship, the German factory team will enter the weekend without the same level of experience and track data.

This was also the case at the previous round in Barcelona, where Magnussen and teammates Dries Vanthoor and Raffaele Marciello battled their way from 16th on the grid to seventh place despite challenging conditions.

"We're approaching the weekend in the same way as Barcelona. It's the first time we're racing here with our Hypercar, and we haven't tested at the circuit either, so we're starting from scratch. The priority is to gather as much data as possible during practice so we can find the optimal setup ahead of qualifying," says Kevin Magnussen.

"But I'm really looking forward to the weekend. Monza is one of those circuits that every racing driver loves. It's a historic place with a fast and demanding layout, and the fans down here are incredibly passionate. I also believe our BMW M Hybrid V8 will suit the track well, so I can't wait to get started," adds Magnussen.

While the World Championship title itself will be decided between the two Toyota crews, the battle for the remaining positions in the Drivers' Championship is still extremely close. Magnussen and Marciello have 75 points, while teammate Dries Vanthoor has 69, having missed a round earlier in the season due to a scheduling clash with the American IMSA championship.

The stage is therefore set for an exciting conclusion to a season in which BMW M Team WRT has made significant progress, including a victory in the six-hour race at Interlagos in Brazil.

"Of course, we'll be fighting to hold on to our position. The title is out of reach, but finishing on the championship podium would be a great way to end the season. If someone had told us at last year's finale in Bahrain, after a really difficult season, that we'd be fighting for championship trophies just one year later, I think we would have struggled to believe it. Both our cars have won races this year and finished on the podium several times, so we've really taken a big step forward as a team. Now it's all about finishing the season on a high," says Kevin Magnussen.

Beyond the Drivers' Championship, valuable points are also at stake in the Manufacturers' Championship. Toyota secured the 2026 title in Barcelona, but BMW currently holds second place ahead of Ferrari and Cadillac, both of which still have a chance to overtake the German manufacturer in the finale.

The eighth and final round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Monza, gets underway on Sunday, November 8, at 11:00 a.m. local time (GMT +1). The six-hour race can be followed live on FIA WEC+.