Pole position in GTC, sixth and seventh place in class at the finish: the 12 Hours of Sebring was a “baptism of fire” for this young team. The N°27 of Patrick Dempsey-Joe Foster-Andy Lally and Michael Avenatti-Andrew Davis-Bob Faieta.

“The guys worked so hard” said Partick Dempsey. “We put them in a very difficult situation, they didn’t complain. Andy drove really well, Joe did a great job but unfortunately I made a mistake from the very first moment I got in the car”. After taking over from Andy Lally, who drove from the start of the race, the actor/driver received two penalties for speeding in the pits. “The pit speed violations probably cost us a podium,” Dempsey said. “It is just so competitive that you can’t make a mistake, I didn’t make any mistakes after that, which I was really happy about.”

The Dempsey-Foster-Lally Porsche had an accident at the half way point when Joe Foster left the track in the last corner before the pit straight. Fortunately, he was not injured and the car was quickly repaired. Andy Lally drove the last stint before the finish, making up two places in the last 90 minutes of the race. “The way we have to look at this is as a successful debut for a team that is having its first adventure in a Porsche” said the British driver. “The speed that we showed in qualifying to take a pole in our first ever attempt here was good. To lead the whole first stint was great, just a successful weekend all around.”

Three years after his first participation in a Ferrari, Patrick Dempsey returns on the 22nd and 23rd of June, in the 90th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jean-Philippe Doret – ACO
(Quotes from Dempsey Del Piero Racing press information)

Photo : SEBRING (FLORIDA, USA), SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, 12 HOURS OF SEBRING, QUALIFYING, 15 MARCH 2013. Patrick Dempsey hugs Andy Lally, who set the pole position time in his first race with Dempsey Del Piero Racing in GTC. The following day, the team took both their cars to the finish of the 12 Hours of Sebring.