Italian World Cup-winning striker Alessandro Del Piero has joined forces with American actor Patrick Dempsey - better known as ‘Dr McDreamy’ in the television series Grey’s Anatomy - to launch a new motor racing team which the duo hope to enter in the prestigious Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.
Dempsey/Del Piero Racing said on Tuesday they had applied to enter the French race in June with three drivers - the Grey's Anatomy actor, Joe Foster and Michael Avenatti - who will also serve as principals.
The team will be based in the United States and also plan to compete in the American Le Mans Series this year.
No financial details were revealed or what the 38-year-old De Piero's role will be with the team but the Italian was excited to add his name to the existing Dempsey Racing.
“I have had a passion for motor sport since I was a young boy growing up in Italy.”
Del Piero said: “I am thrilled at the opportunity to team with Patrick. We expect to compete at a very high level and our central focus will be on winning world championships.”
The team said that the car's livery and sponsorship deals will be amongst other details released in the coming weeks.
Dempsey said: “Alessandro's passion for winning and leadership skills will be invaluable and he will play an important role in the development and direction of the team.”
SKYACTIV DIESEL
Dempsey Racing has already been named as the first privateer team in the Le Mans Prototype 2 class to be supplied with Race-tuned 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engines.
Dempsey and business partner/co-driver Joe Foster have both competed at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the GT category, and are planning to return in 2013 in the LMP2 class with Mazda diesel power.
The team has expanded its operations this year to include running in the American Le Mans Series, competing in both the Prototype Challenge and LMP2 classes as they prepare for their 2013 Le Mans effort.
Dempsey said: “We are currently testing our LMP2 car in the US in preparation for the next ALMS race.”
Dempsey Racing has been running Mazda RX-8s in the Grand-Am GT class since 2007, scoring a remarkable podium finish at the 2011 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.