Danish Formula Renault 3.5 star and McLaren Young Driver Development Program member Kevin Magnussen has started his 2013 title assault in great style with a pair of second place finishes at Monza.[http://gallery.mailchimp.com/da23bff57d807bbf76da2db4f/images/YMIV9428399ab7.JPG]Magnussen qualified seventh in damp conditions for Saturdays opening race but drove a strong race to move up to second place behind Stoffel Vandoorne.In todays second race the Dane qualified third and enjoyed a race long battle with Vandoorne and Antonio Felix da Costa.Magnussen, Vandoorne and da Costa all took turns at the front with Magnussen pressuring da Costa strongly in the closing stages before having to back off on the penultimate lap and take second after his sidepod started to come loose.These two podium finishes relieve some pressure for the rest of the season, Magnussen said.The first few kilometres were amazing! But unfortunately they didnt go in my favour. I had to put pressure on Antnio [Flix da Costa], but I couldnt afford any mistakes because Stoffel [Vandoorne] would have pounced.I enjoyed this race hugely from start to finish.After the opening weekend, Magnussen is second in the championship on 36 points.The next round of the championship will be held at Motorland Aragon in Spain on April 27 and 28.Magnussen finished second on debut at the opening round of the championship at the Spanish venue last season.

FORMULA RENAULT 3.5 CALENDAR7 April Monza, Italy28 April Aragon, Spain26 May Monaco, Monte Carlo2 June Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium23 June Moscow Raceway, Russia21 July Red Bull Ring, Austria15 Sep Hungaroring, Hungary29 Sep Paul Ricard, France20 Oct Barcelona, Spain