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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Dempsey Confirms LMP2 Program
“We’ll have a presence in LMP2 at some point this year,” Patrick Dempsey tells SPEED.com...
Patrick Dempsey will make his LMP2 driving debut this year, the multi-talented actor/racer confirmed to SPEED.com. (Photo: Brian Cleary/GRAND-AM)
While Dempsey Racing continues its ambitious expansion, which includes an American Le Mans Series LMPC effort in addition to a full-season return to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, the Georgia-based squad will kick start a third program this year, with an eye towards the future.
Team principals Patrick Dempsey and Joe Foster confirmed to SPEED.com that Dempsey Racing will enter the LMP2 ranks sometime in 2012, and has not yet ruled out a debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.
"We'll have a presence in LMP2 at some point this year,” Dempsey said. “Certainly, we want to do it correctly. We have a lot of different directions we could go in and we're trying to figure out which one is the best one for the long term. We're really looking towards 2013 as well, so we need to make sure that we have a strong car.”
First revealed by SPEED.com last year, Dempsey expressed ambitions of moving into LMP2, initially with a limited-season program prior to a possible full-season effort in the FIA World Endurance Championship for 2013.
Those plans still appear to be on track, but the scale of its LMP2 program for its initial season has yet to be decided. Dempsey and Foster said they have multiple scenarios in the works at the moment, but both are expected to be part of the driver lineup.
“The goal is an absolute, proper full-time deal in 2013,” Foster said. “There's a taste-tester that has to happen before that. But we want to be realistic. We've been really lucky to have expanded the program into LMPC and we want to be sure we don't bite off too much than we can chew.”
With the actor/racer’s insurance policy prohibiting him from racing an open-top car, it narrows Dempsey's chassis choice down to either Lola’s cost-capped B12/80 coupe or the new South African-built Bailey LMP2, the latter an unlikely option given the time frame.
In terms of engine options, Foster has ruled out Mazda for this year but has remained committed to the Japanese manufacturer for what it could deliver in 2013. It’s expected the team would use a non-competing brand, such as Judd, in the meantime.
"We still want to do it with Mazda,” Foster said. “We hope there will eventually be a Mazda engine. We're working with Mazda on the whole program to make sure it's correct for them this year as well. It's all part of our long-term deal.”
Dempsey ruled out any possible collaboration with Dyson Racing, which has two automatic LMP1 invites to Le Mans this year for its pair of Lola-Mazdas.
With the Le Mans entry request deadline of Jan. 18 looming, Dempsey said further details about the team’s new program should be announced in the next week or two, alluding to that a Le Mans debut could very well be possible, if awarded an entry.
"We have to make sure all of our partners are happy to achieve our goals,” Dempsey added. “We need to get in and understand that series. We need to understand the technical side of that car and I need seat time. That's what we're doing. We're trying to figure out the best way to realize those goals."
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Team principals Patrick Dempsey and Joe Foster confirmed to SPEED.com that Dempsey Racing will enter the LMP2 ranks sometime in 2012, and has not yet ruled out a debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.
"We'll have a presence in LMP2 at some point this year,” Dempsey said. “Certainly, we want to do it correctly. We have a lot of different directions we could go in and we're trying to figure out which one is the best one for the long term. We're really looking towards 2013 as well, so we need to make sure that we have a strong car.”
First revealed by SPEED.com last year, Dempsey expressed ambitions of moving into LMP2, initially with a limited-season program prior to a possible full-season effort in the FIA World Endurance Championship for 2013.
Those plans still appear to be on track, but the scale of its LMP2 program for its initial season has yet to be decided. Dempsey and Foster said they have multiple scenarios in the works at the moment, but both are expected to be part of the driver lineup.
“The goal is an absolute, proper full-time deal in 2013,” Foster said. “There's a taste-tester that has to happen before that. But we want to be realistic. We've been really lucky to have expanded the program into LMPC and we want to be sure we don't bite off too much than we can chew.”
With the actor/racer’s insurance policy prohibiting him from racing an open-top car, it narrows Dempsey's chassis choice down to either Lola’s cost-capped B12/80 coupe or the new South African-built Bailey LMP2, the latter an unlikely option given the time frame.
In terms of engine options, Foster has ruled out Mazda for this year but has remained committed to the Japanese manufacturer for what it could deliver in 2013. It’s expected the team would use a non-competing brand, such as Judd, in the meantime.
"We still want to do it with Mazda,” Foster said. “We hope there will eventually be a Mazda engine. We're working with Mazda on the whole program to make sure it's correct for them this year as well. It's all part of our long-term deal.”
Dempsey ruled out any possible collaboration with Dyson Racing, which has two automatic LMP1 invites to Le Mans this year for its pair of Lola-Mazdas.
With the Le Mans entry request deadline of Jan. 18 looming, Dempsey said further details about the team’s new program should be announced in the next week or two, alluding to that a Le Mans debut could very well be possible, if awarded an entry.
"We have to make sure all of our partners are happy to achieve our goals,” Dempsey added. “We need to get in and understand that series. We need to understand the technical side of that car and I need seat time. That's what we're doing. We're trying to figure out the best way to realize those goals."
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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