page_title: Team Seattle
section_title: 2009 Le Mans entry
hierarchical_section_title: Team Seattle / History / 2009 Le Mans entry
caption_attribution_description: The Advanced Engineering/Team Seattle Ferrari F430 GT2 at scrutineering for the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans
context_page_description: Team Seattle is an endurance auto racing team and charitable organization founded by racing driver Don Kitch, Jr. in 1997 to raise funds for the Seattle Children's Hospital. Team Seattle's drivers and other supporting teams who compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona gain pledges from donors based on the number of laps their cars can complete over the event. Since first entering Daytona in 1997, Team Seattle has raised over $3.3 million for Seattle Children's. A new endeavor for 2009 will have Team Seattle participate in another endurance event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, and also raise funds for the Mecenat Chirurgie Cardiaque Enfants du Monde. The team's driving squad will include American actor Patrick Dempsey.
context_section_description: Team Seattle announced a partnership with Italian racing team AF Corse to apply for an entry to the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, not only to raise funds for Seattle Children's, but also for the French Mecenant Chirurgie Cardiaque.  Although initially being granted a reserve entry, Team Seattle was granted a full entry on March 31, 2009, following the withdrawal of another competitor.  Team Seattle made use of a Ferrari F430 GT2 from AF Corse's Advanced Engineering squad.  Founder Don Kitch, Jr. and racing driver Joe Foster were joined by actor Patrick Dempsey, a regular competitor in the Rolex Sports Car Series.
  Pledges to the team were raised not only by the car's lap total, but also by allowing donations in exchange for personal photos to be added to the car's paint scheme.  The team expected to raise $1 million at the event.
caption: The Advanced Engineering Ferrari F430, supported by Team Seattle at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans
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