There are many celebrities who are passionate about their cars, but few go so far as to participate in auto racing events. So when actor Patrick Dempsey gets behind the wheel for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France, he'll be in rare company.
Le Mans is known to be one of the most grueling races in the world since its start in 1923. The event requires endurance and speed, as racers go head-to-head for 24 full hours - happening June 22 and 23 of this year. Part of the challenge comes from managing vehicle maintenance and stops for gas, but drivers must also deal with exhaustion, hunger and other issues without much of a break.
"Racing is my passion, and taking on Le Mans will be the biggest challenge of my life so far," Dempsey said. "Le Mans pushes both driver and machine to the absolute brink, testing stamina, skill and endurance unlike any other event in the world. Just getting to Le Mans is almost as challenging as the race itself."
Dempsey and his team will even be filming their exploits for a four-part miniseries, which will debut on the Velocity network Aug. 28.