After a tough qualifying session, TruSpeed’s crew made all the right adjustments to the No. 47 The Sitter / Muscle Milk Porsche GT3 and handed Tomy Drissi a podium contending car. Unfortunately, Tomy’s day was cut short when his Porsche made contact with the turn four wall.
“I’m still not sure what happened,” said Tomy following the race. “I had a really bad restart after the first caution. I went to pull out on the front straight, but thought better of it since we weren’t quite green… unfortunately, that opened up my line on driver’s right and a few guys came through.”
“Everything seemed fine,” continued Tomy, “although I was surrounded by a lot of traffic after we got through the hairpin at turn two. A few of us came through turn three and it appeared the Ferrari got a little wide going through turn four. I got underneath him and was just easing onto the throttle at the exit. Suddenly, the car snapped strangely to the right and next thing I knew I was in the wall. Fortunately, the car did all the right things from a safety standpoint and I was able to climb out on my own completely unharmed.”
After the race there was much talk about rough driving and questions raised about driver patience. Tomy had his own opinion.
“It’s a 50 minute format,” Tomy pointed out. “Guys are going to be impatient… that’s natural. But it seems there are a few guys that can’t understand that if they make a mistake, they need to regroup a bit and take a lap or two to regain their composure… then go and try to get their position back. If you’re fast enough to be there… you’ll get there. But putting a wheel off and immediately getting back in the throttle and going after the guy in front you at the very next corner just makes no sense. It’s really a shame… these are good race cars and the fans deserve a good show. I hope the SCCA Pro Racing officials take the time to address the situation. The long yellows don’t make for a good show.”
Congratulations go out to Tomy’s TruSpeed team mate, Patrick Long, driving the No. 45 PrivacyStar Porsche. Patrick sealed the 2011 GT Driver’s Championship in the Pirelli World Challenge, claiming the title in his first full season in the Series and delivering TruSpeed Motorsports its first championship.
Tomy and TruSpeed will wrap up the 2011 Pirelli World Challenge season at the ultra-fast Road Atlanta circuit in Braselton, GA on Sep. 30 – Oct. 2.
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. His 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 and Trans-Am Champion. In 2010 Tomy competed in Trans-Am competing in 7 rounds and taking 1 win, 1 pole, 3 podiums, 4 Top Fives, 7 Top Tens; He also competed in the American Le Mans Series LMP1 class at Mid-Ohio finishing 3rd. Tomy is married to Lacy Livingston Drissi.
Find out more about Tomy at http://www.tomydrissi.com or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tomydrissi/. You can follow Tomy on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tomydrissi.
The Sitter In Theaters December 9th
When the world’s most irresponsible babysitter takes three of the world’s worst kids on an unforgettable overnight adventure through the streets of New York City, it’s anyone’s guess who’s going to make it home in one piece. The Sitter is a new level of twisted and debauched hilarity from the director of Pineapple Express, starring Jonah Hill.
Pirelli World Challenge
Now in its 22nd consecutive season, the Pirelli World Challenge is North America’s top production car-based racing championship. Divided into three separate categories (World Challenge GT, World Challenge GTS, and World Challenge Touring Car), each race features a thrilling standing start, adrenaline filled door-to-door action and world-class drivers. The Pirelli World Challenge features cars from the world’s most popular manufacturers – race-prepped versions of the cars driven on the streets. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the series races at North America’s premier road and temporary street courses.