31.07.2004 "You want a confident, stable car at Mosport because of the high-speed corners": Canadian Lamborghini driver Scott Maxwell looks forward to his 'home' race at Mosport Park

Lamborghini is a name that conjures up images of fast, exotic and exciting sports cars, and Toronto resident Scott Maxwell hopes all of that comes true for him in the August 6-8 Toronto Grand Prix of Mosport, the annual appearance of the American Le Mans Series at Mosport International Raceway.

Maxwell will co-drive a new Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT for Krohn-Barbour Racing in the only Canadian stop for the professional sports car racing series and feels honoured that he was selected to race the car at his home track.

"The Lamborghini name is so prestigious around the world," said Maxwell, 40, who owns class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Petit Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona in his career.

"The American Le Mans Series is the first North American venue for the car, and running in the ALMS is pretty special so I'm flattered to be one of the drivers."

Maxwell will co-drive with Tracy Krohn, team co-owner along with longtime sports car racing owner Dick Barbour, in the no 6 Lamborghini while veteran sports car racing standouts David Brabham and Peter Kox will share the no 5 team car. The cars will compete in the GTS class of the four-class American Le Mans Series, racing against the powerful Corvette team featuring Canada's Ron Fellows. Fellows and Maxwell are longtime friends and Maxwell looks forward to mixing it up on the 2.45-mile Mosport circuit with his fellow countryman.

"Historically Ron and the Corvette team have been dominant at Mosport and I'm sure they are going to be the team to beat again," said Maxwell. "It's just nice to have a bit of a Canadian bash in there with the Lamborghini team. The Canadian fans love their motorsport and the Lamborghini will be a fan favourite at Mosport for sure."

Maxwell finished third overall in last year's ALMS race at Mosport, driving a Panoz LMP01 Prototype, in the first race he had run at his home track in several years. The winner of four different Canadian racing championships in his career, Maxwell has a strong record at Mosport, having won a CASCAR stock car race and a Canadian GT race on the same day at Mosport in 1998.

"We're in the early days of development with the Lamborghini," said Maxwell. "So it's hard to say how well it will run at Mosport. It seems to have good grip and downforce, good rear traction, and you want a confident, stable car at Mosport because of the high-speed corners," he said. "I'm optimistic that it will work very well."