GB4 alumni Luca Magnussen claimed a debut podium in the McLaren Trophy Europe season opener at Monza last weekend.
The young Dane, who also earned silverware during his GB4 campaign last year, has signed up with Paddock Motorsport to run in the series, with the team engaging in a technical partnership with front-running GB4 squad Douglas Motorsport.
Sharing a McLaren Artura with Callum Davies, Magnussen and his teammate earned an excellent seventh place on the grid for the first race. Davies made a blinding start to climb to third on the opening lap, before handing over to the GB4 star mid-race.
Magnussen then went on a charge himself, and superbly moved up to second place with a move around the outside of Kristian Brookes at the first chicane, securing the duo the runner-up spot at the first time of asking.
“It was fantastic to get P2 on our debut. It was incredible!" Magnussen commented. "It was my first weekend in GTs, and there were a lot of ups and downs. It went great on Saturday, but we need to maybe work on Qualifying pace, but that’s something to focus on.
"I was just delighted to get that first podium so early. Myself and Callum are a great match, so it’s a good start to our season together.”
Paddock Motorsport's Martin Plowman expressed his delight at the young charger's performance.
“I’m really pleased with how the entire team performed this weekend, especially in some really challenging conditions with the extreme track temperatures and the heat in the car.
"I’m delighted for Luca and Callum, second place on their debut is a superb result and I have no doubt that can be the first podium of many."
Douglas Motorsport Team Principal Wayne Douglas added: "Entering this new discipline with Paddock Motorsport is a different course of direction for us, and while we always enter a new series with high expectations, to get a podium at the first time of asking together is exceptional.
"It's a dream way for us to start this partnership, and of course to do so with a GB4 graduate like Luca is another example of why a stint in single-seaters is vital in any young driver's career."
