Tomy Drissi completed a successful test session driving the new BAR1 Motorsports Multimatic –Riley Mk 30, P2 car at Daytona. The test was mandated by IMSA to give teams and officials an opportunity to establish a base line for performance heading into the 2018 season. This was the team’s first opportunity putting the car through its paces.
“This was an amazing opportunity,” said Tomy. “Being a part of this new chapter in BAR1’s legacy is very flattering. It’s a unique experience to test where you’re preparing a new car for the season. And this is more than just a new car, the team is moving up to a division where they’ll be competing for overall wins. That’s huge.”
“As a driver,” added Tomy, “a test like this is quite a different experience. Typically, your role is to get out there and work hard at shaving lap times. Finding an edge and looking for an additional 1/100th of second. In this situation, you’re experimenting in broad strokes. You’re looking for changes that bring balance to the car and continually weighing every change for efficiency and endurance. Fast lap times are irrelevant if your running the car into the ground. You have to find a balance where the car is both fast and durable throughout the entire race. Being involved with the project from the ground up is very cool.”
Tomy was an integral part of the team’s season ending 1-2 finish at the Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, the final race for the team’s (and Series) ORECA Prototype Challenge challenge cars. BAR1 ended a successful six year history in the PC division.
“Winning Petit Le Mans was a special moment for the team and for me, personally,” added Tomy. “I really appreciate Brian [team owner, Brian Alder] extending the invitation for me to participate in the test. Obviously, moving to the P2 class is a huge opportunity for the team and this test is an important first step in that transition. The car is much more sophisticated and certainly more powerful than our PC cars. Daytona is the perfect place to begin the process of bringing the car and team up-to-speed.”
BAR1 is also scheduled to be in Daytona December 12th as they continue their testing schedule for 2018.
Daytona International Speedway was the site of the two-day sanctioned test. Sebring International Raceway will have four days of testing on Feb. 20-23, 2018.
The Daytona test was open to all registered IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Prototype (P) and GT Le Mans (GTLM) only. IMSA required mandatory participation from entrants representing selected manufacturers and constructors. Each of four WeatherTech Championship sessions across the two-day test were two-hours, 45-minutes in length.
The 2018 season will kick off with the annual three-day Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona test session on Jan. 5-7. The test is mandatory for all Rolex 24 participants. The 56th Rolex 24 At Daytona will run on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 27-28, followed by the 66th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida on Saturday, March 17, which also completes the season-opening “36 Hours of Florida.”
Keep up with Tomy at http://www.tomydrissi.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tomydrissi/ – Catch Tomy’s Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/tomydrissi
Tomy Drissi is an American driver and Trans Am Champion.
His driver experience includes ALMS, Trans-Am, NASCAR and Speed World Challengea
Born December 9 in Hollywood, California, Tomy owns an advertising firm that produces upcoming film displays for cinemas.
Drissi’s first racing experience in motorsports was street racing on Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood Hills.
Tomy’s professional racing career highlights include:
• 1999 Trans-Am Rookie of the Year,
• 2000 Trans-Am BBS Most Improved Driver,
• 2000 Trans-Am Crew of the Year
• 2000 Trans-Am Long Beach Champion
• 2009 Trans-Am Champion.
• 2010 ALMS (one off race) Prototype LMP1 3rd. at Mid Ohio
• 2011 saw Tomy’s return to the American Le Mans LMPC division. He scored a 2nd at Long Beach, 3rd at Lime Rock, 1st at Mid Ohio,1st at Inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix and second at Road Atlanta -Petit Le Mans.
• 2012, Drissi teamed with Bruno Junqiera for finishing 2nd at Laguna Seca, a win at Mosport (Canadian Tire Motorsports Park), 2nd at Baltimore and second at the season finale, Petit Lemans.
• 2013 NASCAR CUP/Nationwide. Best result at Mid Ohio starting 38th and finishing 19th.
• 2014 IMSA LMPC at Daytona 3rd.
• 2014 NASCAR CUP/Nationwide. Finished 19th at The Glen
• 2015 TUDOR Series. 2nd Place Rolex 24 at Daytona
• 2016 WeatherTech Series. 2nd Place Rolex 24 at Daytona
• 2017 WeatherTech Series. 1st Place Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta
• 2017 Trans Am Series. 3rd place at Circuit of the Americas
• 2017 Trans Am Series West. 1st place at Circuit of the Americas
IMSA
The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) is the sanctioning body of the WeatherTech Championship, the road-racing series resulting from the merger of the American Le Mans Series and the GRAND-AM Sports Car Series. IMSA also sanctions the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda, as well as four single-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, Ferrari Challenge North America and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America. IMSA is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.