24h Le Mans
Runner-up in the LM GTE Am class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, Patrick Dempsey has announced he is taking a break from racing to concentrate on his acting career and spend more time with his family.
Dempsey made the announcement via his team website, saying that he remains co-owner of Dempsey-Proton Racing and that the team will continue its World Endurance Championship campaign.
In 2014, Dempsey contested the SportsCar Championship in the USA with his own team and, thanks to a partnership with German team Proton Competition, took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the third time.
Last year, the actor/driver went a step further and entered the World Endurance Championship in LM GTE Am, with support from Porsche. Dempsey, Marco Seefried and Porsche factory driver Patrick Long won the 6 Hours of Fuji, their first international win. The victory came just after their second place at Le Mans.
Patrick Dempsey: At this point in my life, after an amazing season thanks to my friends at Porsche and Tag Heuer, I need to take a step back and focus on my family and my acting career. Dempsey-Proton Racing will continue on racing a Porsche 911 RSR in the World Endurance Championship season. I hope my schedule permits me to enjoy some race weekends at least as a team owner.[...] Life has taught me that it is impossible to predict the future.
Dempsey recently starred in the third Bridget Jones’ Diary and was spotted on the TAG Heuer stand at the Geneva Motor Show last week but his plans for 2016 are yet to be announced.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO — Translated from French by Emma Paulay (quote courtesy of team press release)
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, TUESDAY 9 JUNE 2015, AUTOGRAPH SESSION. Patrick Dempsey always draws a crowd at the 24 Hours of Le Mans autograph session.
