Krohn Racing Progressing on 2014 and Future Plans

Perhaps overlooked among the storylines at this year’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring was Krohn Racing’s run to fourth in the GT Le Mans class, with Tracy Krohn, Nic Jonsson and Andrea Bertolini just shy of the podium in the No. 57 Ferrari F458 Italia.

Interestingly, it’s a result that could have been third had it not been for the timing of the final caution flag in the last hour.

“It could have been more gratifying had we been on the podium if the yellow came out at a different time or not at all,” Krohn told Sportscar365. “It would have made a big difference. But our team did great; really all went well. We were right there at the end.”

“Yeah I mean it was a very good result, running as the only privateers,” Jonsson added. “We’re here to have a run and build momentum for the rest of the season.”

Krohn is back in TUDOR United SportsCar Championship competition this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, after missing the Long Beach round.

While a two-hour sprint race will pose a completely different challenge than Sebring, it’s a welcome return for the part-time privateer team, now based in Krohn’s hometown of Houston rather than Atlanta.

In 2012, Krohn’s team partnered with TRG for an American Le Mans Series GTC class entry in Monterey, but the last full Krohn effort at the track came in 2010, with the team’s old Ferrari F430 GT.

“Everyone’s upgraded since, us included,” Jonsson told Sportscar365. “But we’re in a good position with our a technical relationship with Risi and their 458. This weekend we need to go out and get the feeling for the track, and it’s tough with limited track time.”

The race is the third of six planned for Krohn in the TUDOR Championship this season. They’ll race the two remaining Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup races at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta, as well as at the team’s home track, Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

At the latter event, there’s a chance Krohn’s team could pull double duty between the TUDOR Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship races, which run on the same day. As a year-old Ferrari F458 Italia, the No. 57 car would be eligible for the FIA WEC’s GTE-Am class.

“Austin could be a two-race thing for us. It could happen,” Krohn said. “We could do both. That’s a possibility.”

What isn’t, in all likelihood, is a trip to Le Mans this year as a team unit. Both Krohn and Jonsson could fill a seat in either the GTE-Pro or GTE-Am ranks, but Krohn said a trip as a team to the race won’t happen.

Krohn had been entered as the fifth reserve in GTE on the initial Le Mans entry list, released in February, but had since withdrawn.

Also possible is the option of exploring and/or purchasing an LMP2 chassis for 2015. Krohn has tested Lotus’ P2 chassis over the winter and enjoyed the driving experience.

“It’s a very fun car to drive; I thought it was an easier car to drive,” Krohn said. “The Lotus was a bit tight on me. I had some trouble with right-hand turns, so I was almost driving one-handed. But still, I thought it was an easier car to drive than the GT. It surprised me a bit with the downforce and braking.”

While the trademark “Krohn green” car had its day in Sebring, it seeks an encore, or better, from 11th on the GTLM grid today.