British F3 National Class runner Kristjan Einar could be set for a switch to the United States in 2009, having tested recently with the Newman Wachs Racing squad as part of its Atlantic Championship preparations.

Icelander Einar joined the Star Mazda champion John Edwards as NWR returned to the testing trail at Sebring International Raceway, getting his first taste of Atlantic power after a debut British F3 season that saw him finish seventh in the 2008 National Class standings.

The team reported that Edwards - who was recently announced as the driver of NWR's #36 MAZDASPEED/Nuclear Clean Air Energy/Entergy machine - and engineer Nick Harvey, who worked with the American at Forsythe in the 2007 Atlantic Championship, worked through several set-up changes in an attempt to get him reacquainted with the Atlantic car.

Einar, meanwhile, spent his time learning the Atlantic car, which has considerably more horsepower than he has experienced previously. Times during the test were not released.

“We accomplished everything at this test that we came here to do,” claimed team manager Brian Halahan, “We were equally impressed with John, as he has not been in the Swift 016 for some time, and with Kristjan, who not only has never sat in the Atlantic car, but has never been around Sebring.

"With the changes at our team that occurred over the off-season, it was important for all of us to quickly get up to speed and working together in an efficient manner and we accomplished that with flying colours. We will have more testing sessions after the first of the year and are eager to get the 2009 season started!”

NWR has tests scheduled for 28 January at Palm Beach International Raceway and 31 January back at Sebring.