Oswaldo (Ozz) Negri, Jr. will join Tracy Krohn and Nic Jonsson for Krohn Racing’s European Le Mans Series campaign with their new Ligier Judd in 2015.
Negri, who set the Rolex 24 pole this year and has a Rolex 24 victory in 2012, will join Krohn Racing for four of the five round ELMS, he’ll miss the Red Bull Ring race in July due to a conflict with his full season deal with Michael Shank Racing in TUSCC (also in a Ligier, this time Honda engined).
Negri is not though confirmed with the team for their requested Le Mans 24 Hours entry, a further announcement is expected in the wake of the entry list announcement next week. If successful in gaining an entry the 2015 race would see Krohn and Jonsson combine for a tenth consecutive year at the great race.
Negri began racing go-karts in his native Brazil at the age of nine, moving 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 moved 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 now TUSCC.
“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.”
