Barbosa returns to Le Mans with Krohn Racing

The US-based Portuguese racer joins team boss Tracy Krohn and Niclas Jonsson in the Krohn Ligier-Judd LMP2 for his first drive at the twice-round-the-clock endurance classic since 2011.

"I'm not only excited to be able to get back to Le Mans but also to join a top team with a great operation," said Barbosa.

"This opportunity came about when I was talking with one of Krohn Racing engineers and how I would love to go back to Le Mans.

"He mentioned that there could be a possibility so we kept in touch and I just waited."

Barbosa finished a memorable fourth overall with the Rollcentre Pescarolo LMP1 car in 2007, and in his last appearance in 2011 he secured a third place LMP2 class finish with one of the Level 5-entered Lola HPD cars.

Barbosa made the first of his seven Le Mans starts back in 2004, again with Rollcentre in a Dallara LMP1.

"Joao is a great addition because, although he's not driven the Ligier, he has Le Mans experience and is a fierce and skilled competitor and will suit our team well," said Tracy Krohn.

"He won't be able to join us at the test due to his IMSA commitment with the race in Detroit, but we feel he'll be able to get up to speed in the Ligier rather quickly, come race week."

Krohn is next in action at the Imola 4 Hours, the second round of the ELMS on May 16. It then travels from Imola to the official Le Mans test day on May 31.

Along with some other Le Mans-entered drivers, Barbosa is set to miss the test day as he will be competing in the TUSC at Detroit. Kevin Estre is another driver who will forsake the test as he is also at Detroit racing in the PWC.