Team owner/driver Tracy W. Krohn purchased a new Judd-powered Ligier JS P2 car for LMP2 class competition for 2015. They recently raced in the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship series at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 24-25, along with co-drivers Oliver Pla and Alex Brundle, but suffered an engine failure in the sixth hour.
Negri, who captured the Rolex 24 pole this year and has a Rolex 24 victory in 2012, will join Krohn Racing for the FIA-sanctioned ELMS series at renowned European circuits. The schedule includes Silverstone, England, April 10-11; Imola, Italy, May 16-17; Red Bull Ring, Austria, July 11-12; Paul Ricard, France, September 5-6; and Estoril, Portugal, October 17-18. The ELMS test will be held at the Paul Ricard Circuit on March 23-24.
‘Ozz', as he's called by his friends, began racing go-karts in his native Brazil at the age of nine. He moved up to the Brazilian Formula Ford series in his early twenties before moving to England to compete in the British and International Formula 3 series in the 1990s. In 1997 Negri came to the United States to compete in Indy Lights for several seasons. He then became a development driver for the Barber-Dodge Pro Series in the 2000's while also beginning his career in sports cars. He has enjoyed a decade-long involvement with Michael Shank Racing in Grand-Am and IMSA TUDOR. For 2015 he will continue with Shank, also driving a Ligier JS P2 entry, in the IMSA TUDOR 10-race series in North America.
"We are happy to welcome Ozz to Krohn Racing," said team owner/driver Tracy Krohn, of Houston, Texas. "Adding him and his experience with the Ligier and on the European circuits, as well as his sports car racing skills as our Silver driver, will greatly increase our ability to be the formidable team we expect to be this season in ELMS. We are still awaiting official word on our entry submission, but certainly hope we will be one of the LMP2 candidates in ELMS this season. We've known Ozz a long time through our sports car racing in the U.S. and feel he will fit in very well with our team and our plans for European racing with the new Ligier-Judd."
"We are pleased that Oswaldo (Ozz) will be joining us for the ELMS season, said Gary Holland, Team Manager, Krohn Racing. "As proven by his recent performance during the Daytona 24 hours (pole position winner), he is a great driver and I am sure he will be a seamless fit for the team. He not only brings further European experience of the tracks we will be racing, but also knowledge of driving the Ligier JS P2, as the chassis is the same one he uses throughout the IMSA TUDOR championship this season. He will miss the Austria round due to an IMSA conflict (Mosport), but will do four of the five rounds.
"I believe this is just is another step toward Krohn Racing securing the success the team deserves. Entering the ELMS is a different avenue for the team, but we believe the growth of the ELMS year-on-year, and the strength in depth on the grid will ensure we can fully test ourselves against the best. We are very much looking forward to 2015 with our driver line up of Tracy Krohn, Nic Jonsson and Oswaldo Negri Jr. We hope to really make an impact in the series."
"I'm pleased for the opportunity to join Krohn Racing for the ELMS season," said Miami, Florida-based Oswaldo Negri, Jr. "I've had the opportunity to test and race the Ligier JS P2 and know what a good car it is. To compete in North America in IMSA with Michael Shank Racing and in Europe in the ELMS with Krohn Racing in the same chassis is a dream for a driver. We always want more seat time and more race time. This is the best of both worlds for me as a driver. I've admired Krohn Racing as a first class operation, been friends with Nic (Jonsson) for a long time and competed against him and Tracy for years. I'm super excited and can't wait to start."
Krohn Racing has also submitted an entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 13-14, in hopes of making Krohn and Jonsson's tenth consecutive appearance as teammates at La Sarthe circuit in Le Mans, France. A third co-driver will be announced at a later time, should Krohn Racing be awarded an entry to the historic endurance classic.
