Veteran Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend driving Trackhouse Racing's #91 Chevrolet at the 3.4-mile Naval Base Coronado street circuit. Magnussen's car is the team's fourth partial-season competitor, fielded only at special events and with globally recognized drivers.
What is Project 91?
Trackhouse Racing's Project 91 program was created to offer elite drivers from outside NASCAR the opportunity to experience the Cup Series. As part of the program, car number 91 takes to the track with prominent drivers in selected races. Magnussen is a notable new addition to this select group. You can find broadcast information for this weekend's NASCAR Anduril 250 here.
Where will Magnussen be positioned in the NASCAR test?
It is known that many established names, including the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion, gained NASCAR experience through the Project 91 program. Where Magnussen will position himself among these prestigious drivers is eagerly awaited. The Danish driver will face the unique technical conditions and friction dynamics of stockcar racing for the first time; whether this race, held on a street circuit rather than an oval track, will provide a relative advantage for a driver with a Formula 1 background remains a subject of debate.
The race is expected to be a highly uncertain affair for all drivers, as it will take place on the newly renovated track infrastructure of Naval Base Coronado. Magnussen's performance in this race will be an important benchmark for the international driver profile of the Project 91 program.