Driving ambition

THERE are certain vital signs of the genus racing driver.

The permatan, the flashing teeth, the wrestler's shoulders and the ironing board stomach. Some would say even the glint in the eye. But the use of the words "for sure" as either the introduction to, or the full stop to, a spoken sentence, is most certainly one of them.

"For sure, we will be quick today," the expert of the genre will often note during a race meeting. Or, he will admit, "we've had our share of problems, but they're behind us now, for sure".

It is like a trophy girlfriend part of the gig.

Michael Keohane is from Clonakilty and should not be prone to this particular colloquialism. But it has crept into his vocabulary and as he sits in wait for the most important season of his young driving career, it slips.

"For sure, this is going to be a make or break year."

This guy is a racing driver, no doubts. He talks the talk. But does he walk the walk? He certainly does. In the face of a personal family tragedy at the tail end of his debut season in the main British Formula 3 Championship F1's traditional breeding ground Keohane finished fifth overall and became the first Irish driver since Tommy Byrne two decades ago, to score back to back wins in the series.

His father Paddy his mentor, financier, guiding light, chief adviser and best friend was at Donnington on the day of his double success. It was, Michael recalls, the happiest day of their lives.

However, Paddy passed away in August. At just 51, while on holiday in Spain, he became the victim of complications arising from a ruptured ulcer nobody even knew was there. Michael, facing into the defining season of his racing career so far, is left without the guiding hand which propelled him thus far up the motor racing ladder, through karts, Formula Ford, Formula Opel, Formula Renault, scholarship class F3 and now F3 proper.

Paddy's death has left 22-year-old Keohane and his 24-year-old sister Eibhlin, parentless. Their mother Maeve died of cancer 12 years ago and they also lost a sister, Margaret, the same day their mother died. It's hard to articulate that pain.

Two months after his father's death, with eyes that moisten at the memory and memories, Michael recalls the shocking events lucidly.

"It was like getting pushed to the ground and kicked in the head for a second time," he says quietly. "The Barcelona thing was awful. We never even knew he had an ulcer. Initially, it was thought he had food poisoning, but it became clear there was internal bleeding and they operated on him four or five times to try and stop it. They eventually managed to do that but other complications arose, including pneumonia. There was a lot of blockages in arteries too which didn't help and it was a heart attack that eventually killed him.

"Eibhlin and myself were there and the whole thing was unbelievable. It really was hard to take in and it still is. I thought losing one parent was the end of the world, but losing two

"Sometimes you are OK about it and other times, it hits you like a ton of bricks. You remember the good times and then it hurts even more. I was testing at Rockingham before Paddy died and we had a meal afterwards and a good chat and a laugh. Everything was going so well. I was second in the Championship at the time and going really well, and then this happens. He was with me through thick and thin. We had taken eight years of really hard work to get this far and now he's no longer there to share it with." Just when it looked like we are moving on to the next phase of the plan.

The pain was compounded by the events of 12 years past when his mother Maeve succumbed to cancer. "I was nine when my mother died and it seems that some of my most clear memories of childhood come from before then rather than since," he recalls. "My mother died of cancer. She was diagnosed with it and then went into remission. She subsequently got pregnant and during the pregnancy she discovered the cancer had come back. The baby had to be induced prematurely and was in intensive care in hospital for a long time, but we got the call one morning to say she had died and later that same night my mother passed away as well."

Trying to rationalise such tragedy can be difficult, but Michael tries. "So, I've lost my mum, my dad and my sister and you begin to wonder why this happens. But at the same time, you realise that life goes on and you have to carry on."

And it has to be done because, above all else, that's what Paddy would have wanted.

"My dad worked tirelessly to help me get to the point at which I now am and it is now my responsibility to make sure his hard work pays off. That is what motivates me," Michael says.

Paddy is still a presence for Michael. Not in any physical sense, but very much in a spiritual way.

"My first race back at Thruxton, I overtook both Robbie Kerr and James Courtney on the outside and I finished second. I have to say I felt that Paddy was there with me, encouraging me.

I probably took more risks than I might usually have, but I knew I could pull them off. I knew I could do it. And I did."

The trauma of the latter part of the season off the race track definitely took the edge from Michael's performances. He had been in second place for a large part of the season, but his father's death meant races missed and others took advantage.

INDEED, up to that point in the season, the Carlin Racing team, for whom Michael was one of four drivers, seemed to have a lock on the championship, with team-mate James Courtney leading the series and looking like a surefire winner. Courtney was so well thought of that he was signed as a test driver for Jaguar in F1 and looking set to advance to the top grade.

However, a massive accident testing at Monza left Courtney reeling. Swollen brain tissue, severe concussion, strained muscles and tendons wrenched and torn, it put an immediate end to his title aspirations. Days later, Paddy Keohane was dead and the team's dreams were over.

Time moves on, however, and Michael knows he has to move with it and look forward with confidence to the future. The confidence is there and has been massaged by the fact that each of the top four F3 teams would rather like to have his name on a contract.

His options are open and he expects to sign a contract within a matter of days. Who it will be with remains a mystery, but wise heads reckon he should stay with Carlin, with whose engineers Michael has built up a great relationship and who gave him a chance in the first place.

"Yes, we've done well with Carlin and I finished on the podium in 50% of the races I entered and there is a case for going with them again. I only got the drive with them after they gave me a test late last year at Pembrey and I went so well I gave them a headache. But dad kept calling and calling and pushing them real hard to give me a chance that they eventually went with me. Trevor Carlin (the team owner) told me after that had it not been for Paddy, I'd never have got the drive."

Whoever he goes with, Michael knows that if he delivered against expectations last year, he will have the pressure of expectation on his shoulders this time around and will be used as a marker by incoming hot shoes to raise their own claims for progression.

With the help of his girlfriend Maura, sister Eibhlin and his extended family as well as the continued backing of sponsors like Ibstock Brick, ACD and Clonakilty Black Pudding Michael knows what needs to be done and has every intention of doing it.

"Nobody knows what's around the corner. Recent events prove that. So being realistic is the main thing. It has taken me eight years to get to the point I am now at, but another big step needs to be made and I know what I have to do to make that step. The ball is in my court now, for sure."

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Michael Keohane, racing driver. For sure.