Dempsey Racing, Silicon Tech Racing join forces for LMP effort
Patrick Dempsey (Top) and the STR car |
The LMP Challenge class in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n continues to grow with the addition of a high-profile team for the full 2012 championship. Dempsey Racing and Silicon Tech Racing (STR) announced a new partnership that will see Silicon Tech/Dempsey Racing contest the full ALMS schedule. The effort marks the first foray into the American Le Mans Series for Dempsey Racing – owned by Hollywood star Patrick Dempsey.
Dempsey and Joe Foster, co-owner of Dempsey Racing, are joined in the 2012 ALMS program by Henri Richard – STR team principal and a three-time winner in the Series including an LMPC victory at last month’s Petit Le Mans.
“We’ve been seeking to expand our program base for some time and we firmly believe that we’ve arrived at the correct opportunity with Henri and his Silicon Tech Racing partners," Dempsey said. “Next year will be a big step for Dempsey Racing as we continue to work with our long term manufacturer partner Mazda and expand into the ALMS. We have long term, international aspirations, and long term international partners like Silicon Tech Racing and Mazda will help us achieve those goals."
A founding goal of Dempsey Racing was to ultimately expand to a multi-faceted motorsports program with teams competing in several different racing series, and the announcement of the Silicon Tech/Dempsey Racing partnership is a major step in that direction.
The team will take delivery of its ORECA FLM09 with a comprehensive testing plan scheduled prior to the 60th anniversary of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, the opening round of the 2012 ALMS.
“Joining with Patrick, Joe and everyone at Dempsey Racing is an amazing opportunity for next year," Richard said. “We all seem to have mutual interest in using this as a forum for our guests and business partners. Dempsey Racing brings a great name to our business-to-business platform, and the value it will bring to each event will be a great boost for our team. At the very least I’m sure we’ll have a lot more executives pushed by their wives and daughters to come out to the races. This is also another step forward toward my ultimate objective: competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the prototype category."
Established in 2003 as Hyper Sport, Dempsey Racing has operated from its Atlanta base for the last nine years. Dempsey and Foster, who handles the day-to-day operation of Dempsey Racing along with team manager Greg Cates, have also been co-drivers of the team’s No. 40 Mazda RX-8 GT in Grand-Am for the last four seasons.