Another high profile announcement regarding the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship was today made from Los Angeles, USA. Renowned Hollywood actor and skilled GTE Am entrant at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Patrick Dempsey, has revealed his intention to compete next season on the world stage of international sports prototype and GTE racing, the FIA WEC.
Patrick Dempsey plans to compete in a Dempsey Racing/Proton Porsche 911 RSR in the LMGTE Am class, and will be teamed with Porsche factory driver Patrick Long and a third, yet-to-be-announced, Silver-classified driver. The working relationship with Christian Ried’s Proton team was successfully established in 2013 and Dempsey and Long have already achieved a very creditable 4th and 5th in class together at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
"I’m already looking forward to 2015, and I’m proud to be able to contest the entire WEC as well as Le Mans with a Porsche,” said Patrick Dempsey at the launch of the program on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Motor Show. “Porsche’s experience in long distance racing is invaluable. Porsche was winning sports car races before I was even born. As a childhood fan of Porsche, I grew up with their successes at Le Mans, Daytona, and the Targa Florio. There are moments when I simply cannot believe that I am now a member of this great team.”
Gérard Neveu, CEO of the FIA WEC, expressed his delight at the announcement: “We very much welcome Patrick Dempsey to the FIA WEC.
“A famous actor but also a highly-skilled competitor and talented racing driver, Patrick Dempsey is a well-known personality in the world of endurance racing. He had three participations at the 24 Hours of Le Mans under his belt and, after several seasons racing in North America, he is a true representative of the values held by everyone in this discipline.
“To see Patrick Dempsey alongside another excellent American driver, Patrick Long, in a GTE Am Porsche in the FIA WEC will be a dream come true for USA endurance racing fans. That they will be competing under the banner of the redoubtable Proton team means this will be a very popular entry for fans the world over to follow and support.
“The WEC paddock is very happy to hear this excellent news.”
Fiona Miller
Photo: CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 14-15 JUNE 2014. Patrick Dempsey at a media event in the days leading up to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2014, round three of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
