KINETICS CO-OWNER JONSSON CAPTURES 3RD AT LE MANS!
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Jonsson on Le Sarthe podium
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June 15, 2009
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Buford, GA- June 14, 2009- Swede Nic Jönsson and his Krohn Racing teammates capture 3rd place in the GT2 class for the 77th running of the world's most famous sports car race, the 24 Heures Du Mans. This was Jönsson's second trip to the famed podium after achieving a second place finish in 2007 with teammates Krohn and young talent Colin Braun.
Jönsson, along with Krohn Racing owner/driver, Tracy W. Krohn (USA) and former F1 driver, Eric van de Poele (BEL) teamed up again with Houston-based, Risi Competizione, driving the distinctive Krohn-green liveried Ferrari 430 GT #83. The team had only one unscheduled pit stop for tires at 0109 hrs on Sunday morning and stopped 26 times during the twice round the clock endurance event.
Both Risi teams stood proud on the La Sarthe podium on Sunday as sister car, #82 Ferrari 430 GT in it's "Rosso" red won the GT2 class overall driven by Pierre Kaffer (GER), Jaime Melo (BRA) and Mika Salo (FIN). The trio led the seventeen car field in the GT2 category from the sixth hour to the chequered flag.
"This result is fantastic; for us it's just like a win.", stated Jönsson. "Having the #82 sister car taking the win and us taking third in the whole scheme of things is like a win for the whole team. Risi Competizione have done a fantastic job gain. Both cars ran flawlessly the whole way through and there's very few teams you could say that about: it's unbelievable and astonishing. You almost get goose bumps every time you go out there on the podium – it's the biggest sportscar race in the world. You can win races back in the States and stuff, but to finish third here is probably better than any win in the USA. And to do it the way we did it! You just have to stay out of trouble, be patient, try not to race people we know we can't out-race. Of course, Tracy started racing just six or seven years ago and has been on the podium twice at Le Mans and it's always a team effort. We've done that,l; it's a great result for him and a big thanks to Giuseppe Risi for being part of this team. I can't say enough that I'm happy."
Krohn stated, "I bumped into Ron Fellows [former Corvette driver and now consultant] about midnight and after we'd chatted and just as I was leaving he said "Tracy, keep it on the track." To stand up there for the second time in three years is awesome; you're stunned and on top of that it's a very knowledgeable group of fans. Nine of the 10 Ferraris finished – it's phenomenal and, absolutely, to be part of that in what is not just an endurance race, but rather a sprint race is humbling. You have to remember that we don't drive this car very often [The Ferrari), the three of us. You couldn't have predicted what might happen...it's becoming pretty good."
Risi Team Principal, Giuseppe Risi, was overwhelmed by what had been achieved. "This is a very special day; winning this again after what we did last year makes it even more so. To have ten Ferraris here and have two of our cars placed in the top three is a simply magnificent result. These are the best teams in the world who race here so it is extremely special to have achieved this outcome, and to have entered the history books as part of Ferrari's racing folklore. I can't say enough about it."
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#83 crossing the finish line with sister car #82
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The prestigious endurance race was seen by over 250,000 spectators, up to 350 million TV viewers worldwide, and reported on by 1,800 journalists from over 35 nations.
Jönsson's next race is the Grand-Am Rolex series, EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio on June 19 - 20, 2009.
For more information, please see www.risicompetizione.com and www.krohnracing.net and www.nicjonsson.com. Visit Race Schedule to view Nic's busy 2009 schedule.
For more information about Nic, email media@nicjonsson.com
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