Tomy Drissi “The Rockin’ Moroccan” Ready for 2019 Trans Am Season with Burtin Racing
March 1, 2019
HOLLYWOOD, CA. - February 28, 2019 - On the tenth anniversary of his 2009 Trans Am Championship and twentieth anniversary of winning the Trans Am Rookie of the Year, Tomy Drissi is lining-up for a new season in a confident mood. Drissi and Burtin Racing are heading down to the season opener at Sebring International Raceway this weekend, March 1-3.
This is the second consecutive season Drissi has piloted a Chevrolet Camaro TA car expertly prepared by the Alpharetta based Burtin Racing team and Drissi will be looking to build on the tremendous success he enjoyed in 2018. This year will mark Drissi's first season in nine years that he is taking on a full season championship run in Trans Am.
Always at the top of his game, Drissi brings another Hollywood movie with mass appeal, Dark Phoenix, to the beautiful No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro. Dark Phoenix the American superhero film opens in theaters June 7.
In Dark Phoenix the X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe when one of their own, Jean Grey, starts to spiral out of control. During a rescue mission in outer space, Jean is nearly killed when she's hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. The X-Men must now band together to save her soul and battle aliens that want to use Grey's new abilities to rule the galaxy.
Burtin is sporting a new team sponsor for 2019 – performance packages and track support are in high demand at the newly launched Auto PLAYHOUSE. Paired with the Axalta “Color of the Year” Sahara Bronze on the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro.
On the track, Drissi is coming fresh off wining the 2018 the Trans Am presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship that he dominated last year as well as a historic win at Watkins Glen International. Dubbed the Rockin’ Moroccan” Drissi remains the only American Moroccan to have won a major Championship in the sport - having been crowned Trans Am Champion in 2009.
An expanded format for the Trans Am presented by Pirelli Championship in 2019 means California Trans Am fans will enjoy a feast of action. After Sebring March 3, and Road Atlanta March 31, the series heads west for Round 3 at Laguna Seca, May 5.
Drissi and the No. 8 Dark Phoenix / Auto PLAYHOUSE Chevrolet Camaro will be joined on the grid by teammate Lawrence Loshak in the No. 3 Auto PLAYHOUSE / Pennzoil Chevrolet Camaro. On a memorable weekend for Tomy Drissi and Burtin Racing in September 2018 at Watkins Glen, Drissi led Loshak home for a historic 1-2 for the Burtin team and the California pilot will be looking for more of the same.
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s showdown in the sunshine state Tomy Drissi said, “I can’t wait to get to one of the most iconic race tracks in the world. The most demanding on machine and driver – I am looking forward to being on track again!”
Reflecting on his most recent visit to the mid Florida Raceway in 2017 he added, “Last time I was there down in Sebring was with Trans Am two years ago and we squeaked out a second-place finish, one step up from that is the goal we are shooting for! It’s good to be there with Burtin and the Camaro. These fans in Trans Am are the best and what a great way to start off the year at Sebring! Thank you to our partners that came onboard, Dark Phoenix, Auto PLAYHOUSE, GoShare, Alpine Stars and we are thrilled to be sporting the Axalta Sahara Bronze “Color of the Year” on the Chevrolet Camaro.”
While Tomy’s main aim will be to mark the tenth anniversary of his 2009 Championship success by again challenging for the driver's title, we can also anticipate some spectacular liveries for the Burtin Racing Chevrolet Camaro as the season progresses. Race fans were wowed in 2018 when the car was wrapped “The Predator Movie” and subsequently for “The Grinch Movie.” It was as “The Predator” that Drissi took the checkered flag at Watkins Glen.
Seventeen cars are entered in the prestigious TA class for the first race of 2019 Trans Am presented by Pirelli season, a series that this year comprises an 11-race national schedule for the Championship. The action heats up at Sebring this weekend with two practice sessions on Friday. Qualifying is on Saturday afternoon at 5:20pm ET. The green for the Trans Am presented by Pirelli feature race is Sunday at 3:25pm ET.
Follow the Trans Am presented by Pirelli racing action from any mobile device by downloading the Race Monitor application. Practice, qualifications and live timing and scoring of the race, right on your phone!
You can keep up to date with Tomy Drissi’s racing schedule online at tomydrissi.com and @tomydrissi on Twitter, Instagram and the Tomy Drissi Facebook page!
