Cronje to step in for A1 bound Zaugg.

With Adrian Zaugg's brief but impressive stint in the World Series by Renault earning him the role as nominated driver for South Africa at this weekend's A1 Grand Prix season opener, Carlin Motorsport will turn to his countryman Gavin Cronje for the penultimate round of the championship at Le Mans.

The fourth driver to step foot in the seat alongside Mikhail Aleshin, Cronje follows Colin Fleming, Sebastian Vettel and Zaugg after the latter was enlisted to compete for his country at Zandvoort.

Cronje comes to Carlin Motorsport after a somewhat nondescript season racing in the Formula 3000 Euroseries, a championship he currently lies 12th with a best result of second place at Budapest.

Still, despite being thrown in at the deep end, managing director Trevor Carlin has high hopes the 23-year-old, who is also A1 South Africa's reserve driver, will be able to adapt to the series as quickly as fellow Red Bull sponsored prot??(C)s Vettel and Zaugg, even if he admits is disappointed to lose Zaugg to A1 GP.

"The team is looking forward to running Gavin at the Le Mans circuit. It will be a steep learning curve for him as it was for Sebastian Vettel and Adrian Zaugg but I'm sure he will do well. Red Bull has given us very quick drivers this year and we are looking forward to measuring Gavin against the others. "

"The opportunity for Gavin has occurred because Adrian Zaugg has been called up to represent his country in the opening round of the A1GP series and this opportunity has arisen for Adrian on the strength of his performances at the Nurburgring and Donington with our team.

Zaugg's two second place finishes at the previous round at Donington Park has lifted Carlin to within 18 points of Interwetten.com in the teams' championship, with Carlin determined to keep the pressure on their Austrian rivals around the French circuit.

?Whilst we are disappointed that Adrian cannot continue his progress this weekend we wish him all the best for his A1GP drive in Zandvoort and we look forward to bringing Gavin into our team as we continue to challenge for the team championship title."