Tomy Drissi, driving the No. 16 SRA PC came into Satruday’s this year’s 63rd running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring Fueled by Florida race as the car to beat. After 12 Hours of running, the team had exhausted every spare part and every crew member, having virtually rebuilt the car they arrived with earlier in the week.
Pole winning driver, Marin Plowman, summed it up in a single sentence; “The race obviously didn’t exactly go to plan for us.”
Though remaining optimistic, Tomy was equally disappointed.
“Martin got it right, said Tomy. “I came into this race paying tribute to my father,” said Tomy Drissi. “The decals may have said ‘PAPA’… but it would be equally deserving to add ‘CREW.’ These guys are my heroes this weekend. They carried out their work under the most trying conditions, and they did it with professionalism and without complaint. I know all the drivers feel as I do… these guys are the backbone of this team.”
“But, yeah…” Tomy continued. “We certainly were anticipating a different outcome given our performance at Daytona and Martin’s incredible run in qualifying. I mean, we were on the pole! We had all the momentum on our side. It’s really hard not to be disappointed. I was extremely proud seeing that car running when the checkered flag fell though. Papa would be proud…”
“The upside to all of this,” added team owner Brian Alder, “It once again reiterates how racing is a team sport. With out this crew… without their dedication, professionalism and commitment, we’d have been sitting in hospitality talking about what might have been. It was a tough day, to be sure. But I think every person on this team went home feeling they were part of something special. They did a great job.”
The team will head to California Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Sec, May 3rd, 2015. The event is a two hour endurance race over the 2.238 mile natural terrain circuit. The race will air live on Fox Sports One at 4PM EST.
Tomy Drissi is an American driver and Trans Am Champion.
His driver experience includes ALMS, Trans-Am, NASCAR 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.
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.
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. The 2015 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; the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida at Sebring International Raceway; the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International; and the 1,000-mile or 10-hour Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta.
The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) is the sanctioning body of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the road-racing series resulting from the merger of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and the GRAND-AM Rolex 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 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.