Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey to race at Le Mans

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press Published Friday, June 13, 2014 2:44PM EDT Last Updated Friday, June 13, 2014 4:31PM EDT

Patrick Dempsey has long proved his love of racing was no act.

He put starring in big-budget blockbusters on hold for now, riding the hope that his next boffo weekend smash is a podium finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Dempsey's love affair with sports-car racing was always more than a frivolous dalliance. He's as dedicated on the track as he is on the set, and placed his sights -- from the eyes of one of People magazine's sexiest men alive -- on contending in the most prestigious road race on the sports car circuit.

His team came so close last year to earning that coveted spot on the podium. Dempsey and teammate Patrick Long led the overnight portion of the race before settling for a fourth-place finish in their class.

"We want to win this race," Dempsey said Friday by phone from Le Mans, France. "We were like a minute 30 from being on the podium last year and to come so close, it's a bit frustrating."

The 48-year-old Dempsey gets another shot at a top-three finish when the 82nd race starts on Saturday.

He'll share the No. 77 Dempsey Racing-Proton Porsche 911 RSR with long-time motorsports business partner Joe Foster (also competing in his third Le Mans 24) and Long. They are competing in the GTE Am class.

"We're very optimistic. We have a great team," Dempsey said. "Patrick has won this race before so he knows how to win it. Joe has a tremendous amount of experience, as well. We have a very solid lineup the way it's structured. We have a strong enough package to make this work."

Long will start the race, Dempsey follows with a shift he said could last from 45 minutes to 2 hours, and Foster goes third before the rotation begins again.

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Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey to race at Le Mans