Podcast Podcast, Season 4, Episode 11: Patrick Long

Presented by your host Naomi Schiff, this is The Edge, a podcast by TAG Heuer. Our guest this time is Patrick Long, one of the most accomplished sports car drivers of his generation. From 2003 to 2021, Patrick served as the lone American on Porsche’s roster of factory drivers, winning some of the world’s biggest races. In this episode, Patrick recalls his achievements on the racetrack, the moments that marked his career, and what it takes to drive at the highest level of motorsports. He also tells us about his brainchild, Lift the Cult, and the car culture that inspired it. Presented by your host Naomi Schiff, this is The Edge, a podcast by TAG Heuer.

Here are a few snippets to put you on the starting line and get the adrenaline pumping. But don’t forget to subscribe to our Podcast so you can listen to the full, unfiltered episode later. The Edge is a series of conversations with extraordinary people operating at the edge of possibility. It’s about the thin line between taking part and tipping into victory; it’s about what gives us our edge and what we can do to go beyond it.

“I grew up in Southern California, in areas like Westlake Village and Agoura Hills—suburbs just north of LA and inland from Malibu, right over the Santa Monica Mountains. It was a pretty quiet place, not exactly the fast-paced world of racing. But soon enough, my career ambitions and dreams of becoming a racing driver brought me to Europe. I first traveled to Belgium and Italy when I was 14 to compete in karting abroad. That experience opened my eyes to the reality of what we had always imagined as young go-kart racers in Southern California—the myth of racing in Europe.

My love for motorsport and cars started at a very young age. No one in my family had ever pursued motorsport as a career, but they were enthusiasts, and I was naturally drawn to it for as long as I can remember. Whether it was holding a toy car, attending races, or sitting in the stands, I could feel the raw emotion of the competition, the roar of the engines, and the sensory overload of it all.

Driving was a form of independence for me. As a 5- or 6-year-old on an ATV or in a go-kart, I could go around in circles for hours—probably like yourself. It wasn’t just about honing your craft; it was also about being alone with no one in your ear. You were on your own, and you chose your destiny.

Trying to understand if racing was the right path in life—and committing all the energy and effort needed to pursue a professional career—is a tough decision. It’s something I think so many people face, regardless of the challenge or direction they choose. You go all in, turning your back on other options, opportunities, or comforts. 

My dad raised me with a lot of these little one-liners, like ‘go with your gut.’ I still live by that today. I feel like life is a journey where purpose and ego often tell different narratives in your head. There’s what you think you should be doing, what people tell you you should be doing, and what truly fulfills, challenges, and inspires you. I always felt a natural pull toward competition, to being in Europe, to being on my own, and to putting everything on the line.

From a young age, I knew it would be very difficult to get paid to do what I loved—racing. I understood that the odds were stacked against me. But one piece of advice I’ve always lived by, and still do, is to surround yourself with the very best because it raises your game. At that time, in the late ‘90s, the best competition was in Europe. I knew it would be the school of hard knocks, and I wouldn’t be the big fish in a small pond.

I think Le Mans changed my perspective on sports car racing. It truly opens your eyes to what the grand stage looks and feels like. I was first introduced to that race as a spectator. At the time, I was racing in France and living in Le Mans, but I had never been near an event of that magnitude. I only dreamed and aspired to one day participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

I never could have imagined—or even dared to hope—to compete 15 times in a row. Winning the GT class a couple of times and experiencing the race through different efforts, including with Mr. Dempsey and helping him fulfill his lifelong dream of reaching the podium, were unforgettable. Le Mans holds so many challenges and sweet moments that it really represents the most significant chapter of my life. Although it’s made up of countless memories, there are simply too many to name.

Porsche was, of course, my big break. Being called up to join their Young Driver Team as the first non-German was a huge honor. Within a year, I was promoted to the factory team. It all happened so quickly—not that it went to my head, but rather that I felt a kind of imposter syndrome.

Patrick Dempsey is just an amazing human being. He was someone I didn’t know much about at first. I had crossed paths with him a few times when he began showing more interest in sports car racing. We had flown out of LA together a couple of times, and he just seemed like a really nice guy. But I didn’t really get to see inside his world until 2013, when we first competed at Le Mans together, and that deal came together pretty quickly.

From that first event, I felt a bond of friendship. He’s a real human—vulnerable, sensitive, and willing to put himself in uncomfortable situations, like racing on such a grand stage with arguably less experience than the moment demanded. That bond grew into a student-teacher relationship but also into a genuine, true friendship.

I truly appreciate the time we’ve shared. We talk every week and have for the past decade. I’ve seen his kids grow up, and now he’s watching mine grow up. But beyond all the great stories, he’s simply a remarkable human being. He’s enthusiastic, incredibly engaging, and kind. Traveling all over the world with him during the WEC, I always admired how much time he gave to his fans and how genuine he was.

It’s a huge inspiration for anyone who gets to spend time around him. Starting in 2014, when TAG Heuer appeared on the side of the car, it added another layer to the story. Wearing the timepieces and understanding the heritage of TAG Heuer at Le Mans was something special. Through Patrick’s journey, I got to see a second-hand version of that connection—the bond between TAG Heuer and Porsche that has existed for so long and still continues today.

It was a fantastic way to look at both the past and the future, to appreciate design and engineering, and to see how the precision of timepieces perfectly parallels the world of racing.”