Negri “Working Harder” Than Ever in Tight Am Class Title Fight

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Ozz Negri said the addition of Dollahite Racing’s Ford Mustang GT3 to the Am class in GT World Challenge America powered by AWS has made he and co-driver Jay Schreibman “work harder” in their quest for the season-long class title.

The AF Corse duo enter this weekend’s pair of rounds at Road America again tied for the points lead with Scott Dollahite, after the two teams each took a class win and second place finish last time out at Virginia International Raceway.

While having sometimes run as the lone Am class competitor in selected races in 2024, as well as this year’s season-opener at Sonoma Raceway, Negri said the recent competition has reinvigorated him as a driver, not only to be the best in the Am class but also take the fight to the Pro and Pro-Am class entries.

“It’s a lot more fun when you have more competitors,” he told Sportscar365.

“It pushes you harder,” he added. “I’m extremely competitive. I’m 61 and now I’m racing in the Am class but in my mind I want to compete with the young pro guys.

“I’ve been working my ass off so I can do the best to be closer to them.

“Having the Mustang [as a competitor] this year, it’s another incentive for me to push even harder.

“This morning’s [test] session, I was P6 overall and one-tenth would have put me P3.

“The [crew] is like, ‘This is good.’ I’m like, ‘This is not good because the car is doing this, this, this and that. I want to improve.'”

“They were like, ‘You’re going to be up there with the young guys and they’re not going to like it.’ I go, ‘I don’t care if they do or not. I’m here to drive and I’ll drive as hard as I can.

“‘The moment I cannot do that, then I’ll stay home.'”

Negri, whose had a storied career in sports car racing that’s included victory in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona, said the return of competition has also given Ferrari Challenge graduate Schreibman extra motivation on and off the track as well.

“It just makes us work harder,” he said. “If you think about it, I’m living the dream.

“Jay is catching up. He’s improving a lot. Our gap at this track last year was large and this year he cut it in half and he’s getting closer and closer.

“With Jay, to me it’s a no-brainer because I’ve done it all my life. With Mark Patterson, John Pew, and so on.

“I know how to bring him up to speed quick. It’s not easy. But he’s been putting in the effort. He started training every single day with the guy that trains me and he sees the results.

“He’s getting more and more and more excited.

“For example, last year, we never tested. This year we’re doing some of the tests that doesn’t conflict with his business agenda.”

Despite now being Bronze-rated due to his age, Negri said he doesn’t see himself stopping racing in the immediate future.

“At one point my wife said, ‘Let’s not do this anymore,'” he said. “I totally understand her because she says she cannot take the pressure anymore.

“You get older, it’s a little bit harder to deal with pressure for normal people.

“I totally realize that because my nephew races USF Juniors and I’ve been with him at some of the races and I can’t breathe just watching him!”

Team Set to Complete Season in Am Class

After scoring a hard-earned fourth place finish in Pro-Am at last year’s Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWA, with Toni Vilander as their third driver, Negri confirmed he and Schreibman will finish out the season in the Am class amid the current title battle.

“Last year was awesome. We finished fourth in Pro-Am with Toni,” he said. “It was such a good, fun race.

“It reminded me of when I won Daytona with AJ [Allmendinger], Justin [Wilson] and John [Pew]. I always did well with AJ and Olivier Pla, like you have teammates to add to your car and not compete against you.

“Toni’s a great friend. He has an amazing character and is very low-key. With all the knowledge that he’s got with the GTs, it was a no-brainer. It was like fun from the beginning to the end.

“Now we have another Am car, so we have to fight for it [at Indianapolis in Am].”

Negri said they’re currently in discussions with a “few drivers” to fill the slot, which requires another Bronze-rated pilot, for the race which will also double as the Intercontinental GT Challenge season finale.

“We’re probably going to make a decision as a group. Hopefully we’ll get the right person.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John