Tomy Drissi returns to the BAR1 Motorsports stable for Saturday’s 62nd. running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. Tomy will be joining Martin Plowman in the #88 “Papa” along with Doug Bielefeld and Chapman Ducote.
Hollywood, California native, Tomy Drissi, is excited to be back with BAR1 Motorsports after a successful 2013 season with the team. The American driver 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.
“It’s great to be back with BAR1 Motorsports after the success we had in 2013,” said Drissi. “I’m really looking forward to running at Sebring. It’s such a historic racetrack and this is an exceptional group of drivers that Brian Alder has assembled.”
Tomy gave the following explanation for the ‘Papa’ decals on the No. 88 car.
“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 a big race fan. Having ‘Papa’ on the car is just a way of acknowledging what he means to me.”
“Everyone knows us for the movie titles we typically feature on the car livery,” added Tomy. 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.”
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 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.
A regular participant in the American Le Mans Series and IMSA paddocks, Drissi will contest the North American Endurance Championship with Performance Tech Motorsports in the No. 38 Prototype Challenge division.
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 and Trans-Am Champion. In 2010 Tomy competed in Trans-Am 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. 2011 saw Tomy’s return to the American Le Mans Series, 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. In 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.
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