Actor, team owner and Porsche spokesman Patrick Dempsey is expected to announce an ambitious racing schedule that will see the 48-year-old contest a portion of the domestic TUDOR United SportsCar Championship rounds and as many international events with the World Endurance Championship that fit his calendar. Multiple sources have confirmed Dempsey will place most of his emphasis on the WEC as part of an expanded relationship with Porsche where he’ll return to contest his fourth 24 Hours of Le Mans in partnership with the German Proton Competition team.
Dempsey, Dempsey Racing co-owner Joe Foster, and Porsche factory driver Patrick Long piloted the No. 88 Dempsey Racing-Proton Porsche 911 RSR in the GTE-Am category this year at Le Mans, placing fifth in class, and will continue the relationship at La Sarthe and other WEC rounds with a driver lineup expected to feature another Porsche factory driver. Foster will concentrate on Dempsey Racing’s return to a series in North America, and will not be involved in Dempsey’s racing plans in the WEC or the TUDOR Championship.
Dempsey Racing entered two Porsche GT Americas in the inaugural TUDOR Championship’s GT Daytona class, with Dempsey, Foster, and Andrew Davis sharing the No. 27 while Madison Snow, Jan Heylen, and others shared the No. 58 that was run in a partnership with Wright Motorsports that began in Detroit. Dempsey’s TUDOR Championship plans are said to include at least the first two rounds of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Championship at Daytona and Sebring in a Wright Motorsports Porsche featuring Snow and at least one factory driver. It’s believed the season finale at Petit Le Mans is also a high probability, and compared to the costly season of GTD incurred by Dempsey Racing, the blended WEC/IMSA arrangement is said to offer a friendlier rate due to the Porsche factory’s increased commitment to Dempsey’s racing activities.
The full measure of Dempsey’s plans is expected to be revealed this week during the LA Auto Show.
