Patrick Dempsey has confirmed he will be competing for the full 2015 FIA WEC season. The Grey’s Anatomy star has raced, mainly on the North American scene for 7 years. He has raced at Le Mans on 3 occasions and in 2014, took part in the Inaugural TUDOR United Sportscar Championship driving a Porsche in the GTD Class.
Patrick Dempsey will compete in all 8 WEC races next year in a Dempsey Racing/Proton Porsche 911 RSR in the GTE-AM class. Dempsey will be sharing the car with car with works Porsche driver and name-sake, Patrick Long. The third driver is yet to be confirmed although it is understood they will be a Silver category driver. The two Patrick’s have already established a good racing relationship while racing for the Proton team. The two Americans have raced together at Le Mans on 2 occasions in 2013 and 2014 finishing in 4th and 5th in class respectively in the 2 years. 2015 will see the pair race the full season together, the WEC will be Patrick’s first full World Championship.
When asked about his 2015 plans, Patrick said “I am already looking forward to 2015, and I am proud to be able to contest the entire WEC as well as Le Mans with a Porsche,” shared Patrick Dempsey on the Wednesday of the Los Angeles Motor Show this year. “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.”
Gerard Neveu has stated that “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.”
As Mr Neveu has already said, it is great to have a strong American race team on the WEC line-up. Alongside the recent announcement that ESM will be racing the full season in the WEC in 2015, next season really is looking great for American Sportscar fans.
Photo – Walter Schruff
Source – WEC