Returning to the BAR1 Motorsports stable for the 62nd. running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, Tomy Drissi, along with Martin Plowman, Doug Bielefeld and Chapman Ducote, fought back to a sixth place finish after an early incident put the No. 88 Papa car behind the wall for several hours. Both crew and drivers adopted a ’refuse to lose’ attitude and raced like true champions.
“It was great being back with BAR1 Motorsports after the success we had in 2013,” said Drissi. “Sebring is a brutal racetrack and this exceptional team of crew and drivers gave it everything they’ve got. The crash in the early stages of the race could have ended our day. The damage to the rear was extensive and required several hours work. The crew put in a Herculean effort to get us back out there and my teammates drove like we were fighting for the lead. I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of it.”
Tomy gave the following explanation for the ‘Papa’ decals on the No. 88 car.
“Everyone knows us for the movie titles we typically feature on the car livery. People were asking about the “Papa” reference all weekend long. Like many of us, my parents provided me with the work ethic and values that helped me get to where I am today. My dad is 91 now and he’s a big race fan. Having ‘Papa’ on the car was my way of acknowledging what he means to me. I really appreciate the studios getting behind me for this small token of appreciation I wanted to do for my dad. Everyone knows him as ‘papa’… so that’s what we’ve put on the car.”
Hollywood, California native, Tomy Drissi, made his return to BAR1 Motorsports after a successful 2013 season with the team. Tomy, who made his debut in the American Le Mans Series in 2013. Drissi boasts an extensive and diverse racing background that includes NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series’, K&N Pro Series West, Trans-Am Series, and Speed World Challenge.
The Tudor United Sports Car Championship, formerly the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, merged with the Grand-Am Road Racing Series at the conclusion of the 2013 season. In the tradition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, multiple classes of cars – purpose-built prototypes and production-based Grand Touring automobiles – race on the track at the same time to create compelling race action and constant passing. All cars in the Series compete using one of five approved alternative fuels or energy sources: clean sulfur-free diesel, cellulosic E85 or E10, Isobutanol and electric hybrid technologies. The Series has more automobile marques involved than any other major race series in the world as manufacturers develop relevant technologies on track that transfer directly to the customer showroom. The Tudor United Sports Car Championship competes at North America’s premier road racing tracks and selected temporary street circuits in major urban markets.
Tequila Patrón is the entitlement partner of the four-race North American Endurance Cup and Official Spirits Partner of IMSA and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. In addition, Tequila Patrón will continue its primary sponsorship of the two-car Extreme Speed Motorsports team in the Prototype (P) class, as well as its title sponsorship of the TUDOR Championship event on the streets of Long Beach, Calif., on April 11.
The 2014 Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup encompasses the four iconic endurance races in the TUDOR Championship: the Rolex 24 At Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 25-26; the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida at Sebring International Raceway on March 15; the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 29; and the 1,000-mile or 10-hour Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta on Oct. 4.
Tomy Drissi is an American driver, Trans Am Championand multi time winning
IMSA driver.
His driver experience includes ALMS, IMSA, NASCAR, Trans-Am, and Speed World Challenge.
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.
A regular participant in the American Le Mans Series, IMSA, NASACR and WC paddocks.
Tomy’s professional racing career highlights includes:
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.
Tomy is married to Lacy Livingston Drissi.
Find out more about Tomy Drissi at http://www.tomydrissi.com or follow Tomy on Facebook /tomydrissi and Twitter @tomydrissi