Back with BAR1 Motorsports for round five of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on the street course of Belle Isle, Tomy Drissi with Johnny Mowlem wrestled the No. 20 Jason Bourne / Southwest Funding ORECA to a 5th place finish in Saturday afternoon’s 100-minute Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by the Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers.
“We worked so hard to finding a set up,” said Tomy. “Finally we got it close just before the race. It was better than we had all weekend, but even then, at this level competition, we knew we had a 4the or 5th place car. Johnny and I both drove as hard as we could, all the time making sure we brought the car and ourselves back in one piece.”
“This was our team’s first visit to Belle Isle,” noted Tomy. “We had zero data to work with. Given the short amount of practice and track time, we were at a big disadvantage. Other teams were on their game right off the trailer.”
“That said,” concluded Tomy, “Our guys did a fantastic job of find a set up with would race with. By the closing laps of the race, we were very much on pace. Unfortunately, being a 100 minute sprint plagued with yellow flag full course cautions, we couldn’t make up the ground.”
Fans were treated to a BAR1 livery promoting the new Universal Pictures movie, Jason Bourne opening in theaters July 29. In the movie, Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne. Paul Greengrass, the director of the Bourne Supremacy and the Bourne Ultimatum, once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.
“We were thrilled to team up with Universal to promote the latest Jason Bourne movie opening July 29,” added Tomy. “Jason Bourne fans have been waiting for this one, so I’m really proud that Universal has chosen to work with us in promoting the movie.”
“I’m very happy for Renger Van Der Zande and Alex Poppov in the Starworks car,” said Tomy. “That was great battle with CORE and a hard earned win. Congratulations”
“And I love this town,” noted Drissi, “Thanks to the fans in Detroit. It’s just an amazing place and the people from here are just fantastic. Also, thank you to all my teammates at BAR1. I love the work and team spirit these guys bring!”
Tomy also announced his support bringing exposure to the GBS | CDIP Foundation International. Guillain-Barré (Ghee-yan Bah-ray) Syndrome is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. GBS came to public attention briefly when it struck a number of people who received the 1976 swine flu vaccine. Although not in the news as much today, it continues to claim thousands of new victims each year, striking any one at any age, regardless of gender or ethnic background.
Next up for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen on Sunday, July 3 at the historic Watkins Glen International circuit. The race also represents the third round of the 2016 Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup.
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
Jason Bourne
Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne. Paul Greengrass, the director of the Bourne Supremacy and the Bourne Ultimatum, once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows.
For Jason Bourne, Damon is joined by Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel and Tommy Lee Jones, while Julia Stiles repress her role in the series. Frank Marshall again produces alongside Jeffrey Weiner for Captivate Entertainment, and Greengrass, Damon, Gregory Goodman and Ben Smith also produce. Based on characters created by Robert Ludlum, the film is written by Greengrass and Christopher Rouse. Jason Bourne will open in theaters July 29, 2016.
“The GBS/CIDP Foundation International is working for a future when no one with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and related syndromes such as multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) suffers alone and that everyone has access to the right diagnosis and the right treatment, right away.
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.