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GRAND-AM
SPORTS CAR: Dempsey, Mazda Part Ways
Dempsey Racing working to finalize 2013 ALMS and Le Mans programs...
Dempsey Racing and Mazda have gone their separate ways for 2013, with Joe Foster, left, and Patrick Dempsey, right, working hard to confirm programs in the ALMS and Le Mans. (Photo: John Dagys)
One of the notable teams absent from this weekend's Roar Before the Rolex 24 is Dempsey Racing, with the longtime GT squad confirming Friday that it has parted ways with Mazda.
The move comes in the wake of a lengthy and successful relationship with the Japanese manufacturer, which delivered multiple podiums and a win in Rolex Sports Car Series competition with the RX-8. Plans were also initially in place for Dempsey to represent Mazda in LMP2 this year.
"We've been an all-Mazda team for a long time and it's because of Mazda that we got to where we were," Dempsey Racing team co-principal Joe Foster told SPEED.com. "It's been a good relationship, but with the merger coming and Patrick's objective of going to Le Mans, combined with the economic realities that Mazda is faced with as well, made it clear that we should just do our own thing."
Despite the breakup with Mazda, Foster says the Georgia-based team is working hard to finalize a program for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with possibilities in both LMP2 with its Lola B12/80 Judd or a dip into the GTE ranks.
With the entry request deadline for the twice-around-the-clock enduro looming, a decision will have to be made within the next two weeks, while multiple options remain on the table for the ALMS.
"There's various really good options in several GT classes," Foster said. "Patrick does want to do Le Mans for sure. It could be a GTE-spec car or it could be a P2 car. That's what we're trying to work on right now.
"In the ALMS, we could do both, or one or the other. We obviously have a very good customer relationship with Henri Richard and Duncan Ende. We're still try get that deal still going and just trying to put it all together.
"We have also been approached by several good GTC partners that want to do that. Obviously, in a situation when there's uncertainty, a Porsche Cup car is always a blue chip stock. As a team, as a business, that's not a bad idea, either. We've definitely talked with Porsche about that and are looking at all options."
Mazda, which still has plans to debut its new SKYACTIV-D powerplant in LMP2 competition this year, will be focusing its GRAND-AM efforts with its new MAZDA6 GX-class program, utilizing a similar iteration of the diesel-powered engine.
In addition to Dempsey's departure, Team Sahlen's, which delivered the final victory for the GT-class RX-8 last year, has stepped up to a Riley-BMW DP program for 2013.
"We want to thank everyone at Dempsey Racing and Team Sahlen’s for racing with Mazda these past few years," said Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan, in a statement. "We may still collaborate on future programs in the years ahead, and we’ll always welcome them back to the Mazda family, should it make sense for both of us."
Foster also hasn't ruled out a return to the Rolex Series for select events in 2013 but said it would not be with Mazda.
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
The move comes in the wake of a lengthy and successful relationship with the Japanese manufacturer, which delivered multiple podiums and a win in Rolex Sports Car Series competition with the RX-8. Plans were also initially in place for Dempsey to represent Mazda in LMP2 this year.
"We've been an all-Mazda team for a long time and it's because of Mazda that we got to where we were," Dempsey Racing team co-principal Joe Foster told SPEED.com. "It's been a good relationship, but with the merger coming and Patrick's objective of going to Le Mans, combined with the economic realities that Mazda is faced with as well, made it clear that we should just do our own thing."
Despite the breakup with Mazda, Foster says the Georgia-based team is working hard to finalize a program for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with possibilities in both LMP2 with its Lola B12/80 Judd or a dip into the GTE ranks.
With the entry request deadline for the twice-around-the-clock enduro looming, a decision will have to be made within the next two weeks, while multiple options remain on the table for the ALMS.
"There's various really good options in several GT classes," Foster said. "Patrick does want to do Le Mans for sure. It could be a GTE-spec car or it could be a P2 car. That's what we're trying to work on right now.
"In the ALMS, we could do both, or one or the other. We obviously have a very good customer relationship with Henri Richard and Duncan Ende. We're still try get that deal still going and just trying to put it all together.
"We have also been approached by several good GTC partners that want to do that. Obviously, in a situation when there's uncertainty, a Porsche Cup car is always a blue chip stock. As a team, as a business, that's not a bad idea, either. We've definitely talked with Porsche about that and are looking at all options."
Mazda, which still has plans to debut its new SKYACTIV-D powerplant in LMP2 competition this year, will be focusing its GRAND-AM efforts with its new MAZDA6 GX-class program, utilizing a similar iteration of the diesel-powered engine.
In addition to Dempsey's departure, Team Sahlen's, which delivered the final victory for the GT-class RX-8 last year, has stepped up to a Riley-BMW DP program for 2013.
"We want to thank everyone at Dempsey Racing and Team Sahlen’s for racing with Mazda these past few years," said Mazda Motorsports director John Doonan, in a statement. "We may still collaborate on future programs in the years ahead, and we’ll always welcome them back to the Mazda family, should it make sense for both of us."
Foster also hasn't ruled out a return to the Rolex Series for select events in 2013 but said it would not be with Mazda.
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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