Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey to race Ferrari at Le Mans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/grays-anatomy-star-patrick-dempsey-to-race-ferrari-at-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/grays-anatomy-star-patrick-dempsey-to-race-ferrari-at-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/grays-anatomy-star-patrick-dempsey-to-race-ferrari-at-le-mans/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Throughout the history of motorsports several Hollywood actors have had aspirations to be professional racecar drivers. Steve McQueen and the late Paul Newman come to mind, both of whom were very successful, and some modern era actors have also had a go at it too like Jason Priestley, Eric Bana and the annoyingly ignorant Franky Muniz. Adding to that list is Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey, who has competed in the Daytona 24 Hour Race and the Baja 1000 and has been competing in Grand Am's GT class since 2007. This June he'll be stepping up his game even further when he takes on the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Team Seattle and last year's Grand-Am Koni Challenge champion, Joe Foster. Dempsey will be driving a Ferrari F430 GT prepared by Advanced Engineering who has previously won the GT2 category in the FIA GT, although he'll have his hands full taking on the likes of factory-supported teams from Porsche, BMW, Panoz, and Ferrari. We wish him the best of luck!

[Source: ColdTrackDays]

Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey to race Ferrari at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of Le Mans24HoursOfLeMansFerrari F430 GTFerrariF430GtGrand AmGrand-AmGrandAmLe MansLeMansPatrick DempseyPatrickDempseyTeam SeattleTeamSeattleWed, 25 Feb 2009 08:27:00 EST<![CDATA[ALMS GT2 driver fired DURING last weekend's race]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/26/alms-gt2-driver-fired-during-last-weekends-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/26/alms-gt2-driver-fired-during-last-weekends-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/26/alms-gt2-driver-fired-during-last-weekends-race/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In our rush to get the Mid-Ohio post completed, we forgot about one of the biggest news items to come out of the weekend. One of the ALMS GT2 drivers was actually let go, as in fired, during the race. About 45 minutes into the 2-hour, 45-minute race, Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning Racing driver Tomas Enge got into it with another car on track, and was penalized by IMSA. Already on probation for some other vehicular altercations, Enge was called in by his team and told his services would no longer be needed. Or something to that effect, we're sure.

The team is the two-time defending GT2 champions and want to make it three in a row. They used teammate Dirk Müller to bring the damaged Ferrari F430 GT home in the top five and will find a new number two driver by Road Atlanta if all goes as planned. While a dramatic end to his stint with the team, we're sure Enge will end up in the cockpit with another team soon enough.

Thanks for the reminder, Eric! Check out Eric's gallery of high-res shots from the racing action last weekend at Mid-Ohio by clicking the thumbs below.

[Source: The Race Site]

Gallery: IRL and ALMS at Mid-Ohio - 2007

ALMS GT2 driver fired DURING last weekend's race originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ALMSDirk MüllerDirkMüllerFerrari F430 GTFerrariF430GtGT2Petersen Motorsports/White Lightning RacingPetersenMotorsports/whiteLightningRacingTomas EngeTomasEngeThu, 26 Jul 2007 18:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Petersen/White Lightning to use Ferrari F430 GT in '07]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/21/petersen-white-lightning-to-use-ferrari-f430-gt-in-07/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/21/petersen-white-lightning-to-use-ferrari-f430-gt-in-07/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/21/petersen-white-lightning-to-use-ferrari-f430-gt-in-07/#commentsFiled under: ,



You win some, you lose some. First Dyson announces it's dropping a division to start racing LMP2 in a Porsche RS Spyder, and now Petersen/White Lightning is switching from its two-time championship winning 911s to a Ferrari F430 GT. That 2,425 lb. Ferrari is essentially the same as the Risi Competizione car that won the GT2 Team Championship last year in its first season of racing.

After two consecutive ALMS Drivers' Championships, the team will be getting a higher level of factory support than ever before. By getting their car through the Ferrari Corse Clienti program, they will get a thoroughly sorted machine with lots of factory help, but they will still be able to compete for the independent championship. That would be their third in a row if the sophomore Ferrari performs as well as hoped.

The F430 GT will continue to wear the neon yellow, red and white paintjob on their No. 31 car when they go for the threepeat starting at the season-opener, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. Petersen/White Lightning has campaigned 911s of one type or another in the American Le Mans Series since 1999, racking up 17 class wins including the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Petit Le Mans twice as well.

So far it looks like GT2 will feature 5 Porsches, 4 Ferraris, 2 Panoz, and possibly those 2 Spykers. That would be a very entertaining field that might actually start to bring ALMS to the forefront of America's racing consciousness. Still more changes are expected before the New Year, so we'll keep you posted.

[Source: ALMS]

Thanks for the tip, Mr. ALMS Mike!

Petersen/White Lightning to use Ferrari F430 GT in '07 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 Hours of Le Mans24HoursOfLeMansALMSCorse ClientiCorseClientiFerrari F430 GTFerrariF430GtGT2Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of SebringMobil1TwelveHoursOfSebringPetersen/White LightningPetersen/whiteLightningRisi CompetizioneRisiCompetizioneThu, 21 Dec 2006 15:28:00 EST