Patrick Dempsey Le Mans film debuts

It’s not unusual for cameras to follow Patrick Dempsey’s every move, be it in his “day job” as an actor, his personal life or his racing pursuits.

However, keen observers may have noticed more cameras than usual following his Dempsey Del Piero Racing team through the early stages of the 2013 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón season. In fact, the cameras started rolling in 2012, when the Hollywood star competed in both the ALMS and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, the footage captured by those cameras will be featured in a four-part documentary series on Discovery’s Velocity television network entitled “Patrick Dempsey:  Racing Le Mans.” The documentary focuses on Dempsey’s preparation and efforts to race in the 90th 24 Hours of Le Mans this past June.

“Racing is my true passion, and taking on Le Mans [is] the biggest challenge of my life so far,” Dempsey said. “Le Mans pushes both driver and machine to the absolute brink, testing focus, skill and endurance unlike any other event in the world. Just getting to Le Mans is almost as challenging as the race itself. This project reflects a 360-degree view of the entire race process – including all the ups and downs along the way.”

The documentary chronicles Dempsey’s 2012 Rolex Series exploits and his debut season in the ALMS last year, when his Dempsey Racing team fielded a Lola B12/87 in the P2 class. It also follows the team’s offseason switch to the ALMS GT Challenge class and the No. 27 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and culminates with Dempsey sharing the No. 77 Dempsey Del Piero-Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR with co-drivers Joe Foster and Patrick Long at Le Mans.

Dempsey and his Del Piero Racing team returns to ALMS competition this weekend at the Grand Prix of Baltimore on Saturday, Aug. 31. Visit ALMS.com for current and future event information including tickets and area accommodations. Follow the ALMS on Twitter (#ALMS), Facebook and the official YouTube channel.