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Patrick Dempsey is best known in the circles of popular culture as an actor. However, the screen professional has an obsession beyond Hollywood: driving fast in cars worth flogging. He isn’t just a car enthusiast; Patrick Dempsey is a racing driver with years of experience and his own team. Well, the perma-Porsche fan and racing nut turned 58 on January 13th, and he has plenty to look back on.

Patrick Dempsey has a long history behind the wheel of a race car

Patrick Dempsey poses with a Porsche 911 RS.
Dempsey with a Porsche 911 | Alexander Hassenstein, Getty Images For Porsche

It’s a popular example in the “celebrities who race” conversation; Patrick Dempsey has raced the hallowed grounds at Le Mans. However, his love for racing grows deep beneath the surface of a solitary example. 

The “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bridget Jones’s Baby” star shrugged off cliche celebrity pursuits for a racing helmet in 2004. Still, McDreamy didn’t treat racing as a hobby. No, Dempsey jumped in headfirst, racing at such celebrated events as the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, Le Mans, Grand-Am, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar series. 

What’s more, Patrick Dempsey is a founder of “Dempsey Racing,” a “collection of motorsport enthusiasts and professionals with the intent of nurturing new talent alongside esteemed racing legends to the top worldwide echelons of the sport.” 

It’s more than a mission statement, though. Dempsey Racing took third place at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. That’s no simple feat; COTA is one of the American host tracks for Formula 1 every year. 

Additionally, Dempsey is a partner in the Dempsey Proton Racing Team. The team sent striking Porsche 911 RSR race cars up against steep competition at Le Mans. However, Dempsey stepped back from racing himself in 2016, instead choosing to mentor the racing drivers associated with his team. Still, his racing recusal didn’t include driving on screen; Dempsey played racing driver Piero Taruffi in “Ferrari” (2023).

Beyond his time as a racing driver, Dempsey loves his cars

Patrick Dempsey’s love for Porsches isn’t a secret. What’s more, his car collection boasts at least three epic children of Zuffenhausen. 

  • 1963 Porsche 356
  • 1982 Porsche 911 SC
  • Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)
  • Jaguar XK120
  • Panoz Esperante GT

Beyond his affinity for Porsches, Dempsey has a Panoz Esperante GT. The Esperante GT is undoubtedly a reminder of the actor’s relationship with the late Don Panoz, the man behind the short-lived Panoz car marque.

Whether on the track or the streets of Southern California, Dempsey’s head and heart belong behind the wheel. 

Source: Dempsey Racing, PorscheSport

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).