Le Mans is not lacking in charm and connection with Hollywood. Famously, the late and great Paul Newman raced at Le Mans, and if there were no engine problems in the last few hours, he would probably have won the race completely in 1979. And a very long big screen version of the 1971 race.
It is Irish and German superstar Michael Fassbender who wants to emulate Newman’s success.
Fassbender took on a new challenge, joining the Dempsey-Proton Racing pro-Am driving team and campaigning for the Porsche 911 RSR racing car in Le Mans’ GTE category. GTE is a Le Mans class that uses cars such as Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin and Corvette. These cars look like cars that you can actually buy and drive on the road (unlike the LMP prototype racer, which looks like a spaceship).
Dempsey-Proton Racing has had a lot of success in GT racing since it was formed in 2014. Fassbender is not alone as a Hollywood star in the pits. The name Dempsey refers to the team’s co-owner Patrick Dempsey (the best-known driver for many years in big-screen movies such as the television series Grey’s Anatomy and Bridget Jones’ Baby and Enchanted. is.
“It has always been my dream to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” Fassbender said when the race practice day began. “And the dream is not to think about how much work you have invested in or how many setbacks you have had to face. What you need to do to compete in a weekend race. Not only did I learn how to be competitive. It gives me a fascinating opportunity to maximize my potential. It may be a one-off opportunity, so I’ll do my best. increase.”
“It has always been my dream to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” Fassbender said when the race practice day began.
Racing carrier
Fassbender and Dempsey have planned to switch this racing career since 2018, and the Kelly-born actor isn’t one of the glorious hounds that only appears in high-end races at Le Mans. In preparation for this, the 2020 European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
As a highlight of the season, Fassbender celebrated his first podium at ELMS and finished second in the final round in Portimao, Portugal in late October 2021. “The podium was very important to everyone on the team,” he said. .. “After all the disappointments, occasional setbacks and lost opportunities of the last three years, this result felt incredibly good.”
“Michael may not be the most natural talent, but he is diligent,” says his teammate Richard Lietz. “That’s why I’m putting a lot of effort into helping him and preparing for the challenge of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Together I quickly realized his potential during our first season. . “
Appropriately, Dempsey-Proton changed its car 91 color scheme from blue, black and gray diamond patterns to matte green with orange highlights.
Dempsey-Proton has changed the color scheme of Car 91 from blue, black and gray diamond patterns to matte green with orange highlights.
Fassbender couldn’t get off to a great start — he crashed his Porsche violently during the first qualifying session, causing a red flag that stopped the session for a while.
The great Mario Andretti — Formula One World Champion and Indy 500 Winner — once said that if Paul Newman gave up acting and focused on driving, he would be enough driver to win the world title. Is Fassbender enough to follow these glorious wheel tracks?
