Dempsey, Mazda at Le Mans in 2013
Japanese constructor Mazda announced on Saturday that they will return to the Le Mans 24-hour race in 2013.
One of the teams Mazda will be supplying diesel engines to is Dempsey Racing, owned by American actor and motor-racing enthusiast, Patrick Dempsey.
"This reopens our love affair with Le Mans," said Jay Amestoy, vice president of Mazda Motorsports.
Mazda remains the only Asian manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24-hour race thanks to the triumph of Britain's Johnny Herbert, Belgium's Bertrand Gachot and Germany's Volker Weidler in 1991.
Mazda have previously provided petrol engines to Dempsey Racing, who were founded in 2003 by Dempsey, famous for his role in the television series Grey's Anatomy.
Dempsey took part in Le Mans in 2009, finishing ninth in the GT2 class in a Ferrari F430.
He then finished third in the GT class in the Daytona 24-hour race in 2011.
