#77 PORSCHE 911 RSR (LMGTE Am)

Team Owner: Patrick Dempsey
Team Principal: Patrick Dempsey, Joe Foster
Team Manager: Greg Cates
Location: Flowery Branch (USA)
Website: www.dempseyracing.net

2011 ILMC classification: DNC.

2011 LMS classification: DNC

2012 FIA WEC classification: DNC

2012 ALMS classification: 5th, LMPC Teams’ Championship (90 points)

2013 FIA WEC classification: DNC

2013 ALMS classification: 6th, GTC Teams’ Championship (97 points)

2014 TUSCC classification: 13th, GTC Teams’ Championship (195 points)

2015 FIA WEC classification: 4th, FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Teams (131 points; 1 win)

2016 FIA WEC classification: 7th, FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Pro Teams (88 points, 0 wins)

2017 FIA WEC results

6 Hours of Silverstone: 22nd (3rd LM GTE Am), Ried/Cairoli/Dienst (DEU/ITA/DEU), #77 Porsche 911 RSR (991)

WEC 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps: 26th (2nd LM GTE Am), Ried/Cairoli/Dienst (DEU/ITA/DEU), #77 Porsche 911 RSR (991)

After driving for his own team, Patrick Dempsey mothballed his racing career in 2016 to devote himself to his family and acting. Meanwhile, Porsche had chosen Dempsey-Proton Racing to represent it in LMGTE Pro in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The German manufacturer did not enter any factory cars in the class, preferring instead to focus on the development of the next version of its 911 RSR to comply with the new technical regulations that came into force at the beginning of the year. The Richard Lietz/Michael Christensen duo kicked off at Silverstone finishing sixth in class after losing time in the pits. At the next round in Spa-Francorchamps, the pair finished fourth despite lacking performance. The team’s third man for the 24 Hours of Le Mans was rookie Austrian driver Philipp Eng, winner of both the German Porsche Carrera Cup and Porsche Supercup in 2015. With the two works cars failing to finish, the Dempsey-Proton squad proved to be Porsche’s best representative at Le Mans, placing eighth in LMGTE Pro. With no podiums to show for their efforts, the remainder of the 2016 season was something of a disappointment for Porsche, as the holders of the World Endurance Cup for GT Manufacturers ended the campaign in last place. The new car could not come quick enough!

With Dempsey-Proton Racing returning to the LMGTE Am ranks for the 2017 season after a year in LMGTE Pro, regulations require the team to continue running the old 911 RSR. The switch back to LMGTE Am has, however, allowed Christian Ried to return to the squad. With twenty-year-old  Marvin Dienst, a graduate of the German ADAC GT Masters championship, and Porsche Junior  Matteo Cairoli alongside Ried, Dempsey-Proton Racing has recorded two top-three finishes in class already this season. The young Italian even clocked the fastest lap in the race at Spa-Francorchamps. What the young recruits lack in experience, they should make up in terms of pure speed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans where Dempsey-Proton Racing will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with.

Photo : PASCAL SAIVET / VISION SPORT AGENCY