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Magnussen back behind the wheel with Porsche

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Former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen was back behind the wheel yesterday as the Dane experienced Porsche's 919 Hybrid racer on the first of a two-day test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.

Magnussen was offered the chance to get the grips with the Stuttgart manufacturer's LMP1 WEC contender along with GP2 star Mitch Evans and Oliver Turvey.

As he seeks alternatives to an F1 career which has currently been put on ice, the 23-year-old considers a top-line drive in endurance racing as a viable option, and declared himself highly impressed with Porsche's 919, admitting however that he still had a lot to learn about the complex machine.

"The Porsche 919 Hybrid is the first race car I have driven for months, and it’s an amazing car with amazing power," he said.

"It is easy to feel that this is probably the most advanced race car in the world at the moment. I have a few things to work on, especially getting on top of braking."

"As you can’t see the front wheels here, you don’t really know when you’re locking up, so that is something to get used to and there is also a lot less visibility compared to a single seater. So there are a few things to get used to, but the first impression is really good and I enjoyed it a lot."

After Le Mans winner Nico Hulkenberg was forced to relinquish his spot in the team for 2016 following a clash between the Sarthe classic and the European Grand Prix scheduled at Baku on the same weekend, Porsche are sampling several potential drivers to fill the German's seat alongside regular drivers Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.