Fighting like champions to the very end, Tomy Drissi and the BAR1 Motorsports team finished 5th in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series’ Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Starting 3rd on the grid, one of three cars occupying 3/100ths of a second split, Drissi, Johnny Mowlem, Don Yount and the entire BAR1 crew, bounced back from set-back after set-back. When the checkered flag drop on the 10 hour race, the team brought home the car in one piece just two spots short of last year’s podium finish.
Splitting the driving duties equally, Drissi, Mowlem and Yount were well aware they had a fast car. But they were equally aware that there were two other cars fast enough to occupy the same piece of real estate on the track. This was not a 10 hour endurance race… it was to be a 10 hour sprint.
Drissi weighed in with his thoughts on the race.
“Johnny did an amazing job of getting us qualified… we really thought he’d won the pole. But a couple other cars had the same thing in mind. I’ve never seen it that tight. We were definitely having to drive on the bleeding edge.”
“Of course all of us knew this was Johnny’s last IMSA race,” added Tomy. “No one wanted to talk about it, but we all were trying to find a little extra to give him a good send off. Even though we couldn’t pull of the win, I know Johnny knew we were all in… I know he appreciated the fight that everyone put forth. I think everyone on the team can be proud of the effort. It was a battle.”
Still healing from a shoulder injury, Tomy reflected on his season and some unexpected challenges.
“While I’ve enjoyed some amazing events in my personal life,” noted Tomy, “I’m looking toward being more consistent in 2017. I missed Sebring and Watkins Glen, both races I truly enjoy. And while I had high hopes for my NASCAR efforts, the on-track incident at the Glen really put a damper on things. The shoulder seems to be fully healed, but not being able to work out became an issue at Petit. I was fine… but I could tell I was out of shape. Fortunately, I’ll be able to get back on my regular routine. Speaking of the injury, I can’t get over the care and concern I received from everyone. Not only friends and family, but NASCAR was continuously in touch we me checking on my health.”
“I want to thank the Fox Networks Group for their support at Petit,” added Tomy. “They were a great partner to have on the car and hopefully we can do more together in 2017.”
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
Fox Networks Group
Fox Networks Group is 21st Century Fox’s primary operating unit for TV and Cable. It produces and distributes 300+ entertainment, sports, factual and movie channels in 45 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, using several brands, including Fox, STAR India, Fox Sports, Fox Life, National Geographic Channel, Fox Movies Premium, STAR Movies, Star Plus, and STAR Gold. Their non-linear brands are Fox Play, Fox Play+ and Nat Geo Play. These brands reach over 1.725 billion households around the world.
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 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.