23.07.2004 Experienced Touring Car racer Nic Jonsson will share the no 6 Krohn-Barbour Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT at Portland this weekend in the continuing absence of Scott Maxwell

Krohn-Barbour Racing, the team that gave the Lamborghini marque its best-ever result in an international-status auto race in last Sunday's fourth round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at Infineon Raceway, California, has enrolled Touring Car race winner Nic Jonsson to drive one of its two cars in this weekend's fifth round at Portland, Oregon.

Jonsson will share the number 6 Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT with Tracy Krohn, the Krohn-Barbour Racing co-founder (with Dick Barbour) who achieved the best-ever result for Lamborghini by driving to second place in the GTS class last weekend.

Krohn shared the driving in that event with David McEntee, a track instructor who was standing-in for Canadian Scott Maxwell. Jonsson has been recruited because Maxwell is still temporarily unable to enter the USA, waiting for his sportsman's visa to be updated.

Jonsson hails from Sweden but now lives in Buford, Georgia. The 36 year-old was three times Swedish national karting champion, twice won the Scandinavian Formula Three Championship, was 1992 Scandinavian Touring Car Champion, and in the same year was Vice-Champion in the European Formula Three Championship.

Jonsson first drove in the ALMS in 1999, when he also competed in the Indy Racing League. In 2000 and 2001 he raced regularly in the ALMS, in a BMW M3 and M3 GTR. Last weekend Jonsson scored his first career victory in an SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Race, in a BMW 325i at Infineon Raceway.

Jonsson said: "It was a total surprise when Dick Barbour phoned me Wednesday night asking if I'd like to drive. I know the Lamborghini has not yet had all the testing and development it needs, because it's new, but historically Lamborghini makes great cars. I'm really excited about this drive."

Krohn-Barbour Racing's number 5 Lamborghini will be piloted this weekend by its regular drivers, Dutchman Peter Kox and England-based Australian David Brabham, two of the best sports car racers in the world.

Sunday afternoon's race at Portland International Raceway will be of two hours 45 minutes duration. It is only the fourth US race entered by the Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT, which previously raced just once in Europe.