AGE: 39

NATIONALITY: American

VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL: BMW E46 M3

ENGINE: BMW S54 turbo

TIRES:  255/35-18 123S Front / 285/35-18 123S Rear

Michael Essa started his motorsports career in 1996 when, at the age of 16, he had the opportunity to drive a Datsun 510 at an autocross. He would set the fastest time of the day.  He discovered that a deep understanding of how a car works can bridge the gap between the driver and crew chief. He founded Tech Trix Motorsports in 2003, with a focus on Porsche Club Racing. His clients found great success on the track – class wins, season championships and endurance race victories became the norm for cars built and serviced by Essa.

He earned his Formula Drift Pro license after only a year of Pro-Am level drifting. Essa built his car and funded his own team in 2009 for his rookie year in Formula Drift, finishing as runner up to the rookie of the year, attending 6 of the 7 events. The next few years would be a steady climb to the top of the Formula Drift rankings, winning the Pro Championship in 2013.

Now an accomplished racer, chassis specialist, motorsport fabricator, and driver coach, Essa combines a comprehensive knowledge of engineering and car preparation with precision driving skill. The BMW M3 that he took to the Formula Drift championship was built and engineered by Essa. Michael is founder and CEO of Essa Autosport in Anaheim, CA.