Tomy Drissi and Team Sahlen had their hands full for the 60th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Tomy teamed up with Bruno Junqiera, Joe Sahlen, Joe Nonnamaker and Will Nonamaker in #43 Sahlen BMW-Riley featuring the upcoming Bruce Willis movie, A Good Day To Die Hard, opening February 14th.
“It was an up and down, emotional roller coaster,” remarked Tomy recalling the 24 hour race. “We got into a little problem early on and we were never able to regain our momentum. It’s the nature of a 24 hour race like this. Endurance races aren’t like the old days… there’s no pacing yourself. It’s a 24 hour sprint and if you get in trouble or get behind, you spend the next 24 hours playing catch up.”
The Rolex 24 features international stars of Daytona Prototype and GT class racing twice around the clock in the ultimate test of driver and machine. The race ran under caution for one hour, 45 minutes, 13 seconds beginning at 6:55 a.m. due to heavy fog. Two years ago, there was a two-hour, 47-minute caution for fog.
This was the first outing for Team Sahlen in their new BMW Riley Daytona Prototypes.
“The guys on Team Sahlen did a great job and put in a Herculean effort trying to keep us in it,” added Tomy. “You know, people don’t realize that while the race is 24 hours, these crew guys are up closer to 40 hours. The race may start at 3:30 PM, but these guys are at the track by 6 AM getting everything ready. My hat is off to all them and their hard work.”
“It’s our first race in a DP, and it’s also the toughest,” added co-driver Joe Sahlen. “We’ve had a few mechanical gremlins creep up and take us out of contention, but we’re still pleased with where we’ve come in the last 10 months. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”
A Good Day To Die Hard (In theaters February 14, 2013) Since the first “Die Hard” in 1988, John McClane has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing, making him enemy #1 for terrorists the world over. Now, McClane faces his greatest challenge ever, this time on an international stage, when his estranged son Jack is caught up in the daring prison escape of a rogue Russian leader, and father and son McClane must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy.
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 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. In 2011 Tomy returned 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.
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