'Once a racer, always a racer' - Michael Keohane returns to the track after 20-year hiatus

"It was always something that I wanted to get back to."

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025 - 12:49

Martin Walsh

The motorsport adage "once a racer, always a racer" is set to ring true for West Cork racing ace Michael Keohane, who is set to return to the track next season to compete in the prestigious five round, ten event McLaren Trophy Europe series. A 1996 Irish kart champion, Keohane, from Ballygurteen, went on to compete in single seater racing across many categories - Formula Ford 1600, Formula Opel, Formula Renault, British and European Formula 3, Formula 3000 and the Nissan series. His last competitive race was in 2004 while in October 2005, he had a very successful Indy Car test at Fort Worth in Texas, however, a deal with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing didn't materialise and he returned to West Cork to concentrate on the family business (Keohane Readymix) with his sister Eibhlín following the untimely death of their father Paddy.

"It was always something that I wanted to get back to," he declared as he reasoned his return to motorsport. "Firstly, there are very few mornings that when I get up, it (racing) doesn't cross my mind. It's always there and I want to do something before I get too old."

In the late 1990's Keohane and the late Neil Shanahan were household names in Irish motor racing, while rivals, they were also great friends, to this day the friendship with the Shanahan family is something that is very cherished. In Formula Renault he raced with Kimi Raikkonen while in F3 and previously in Formula Opel, he had great battles with Takuma Sato.

His racing return gained traction at last year's British Grand Prix at Silverstone where he met up with his his friend - racing team boss Wayne Douglas (Douglas Motorsport). "We were chatting away and he brought the McLaren series to my attention."

Things progressed and while Keohane piloted a similar car (to the McLaren) at Palmer Sport last September, Douglas was true to his word and organised a test in the McLaren at Donington Park last week.

"Over the years I didn't think about anything in hard tops, it was all about single seaters. But the car (McLaren) car is very similar to a single seater. It's a carbon fibre tub, the position you sit inside it is very similar to a single seater, the pedals are up and the steering wheel comes into you."

But it wasn't just a case of just turning up at the circuit that is situated right next to East Midlands Airport. "Prior to the test, they sent over the manual and I had to study that and all the buttons."

On the test, he added. "I really liked the car, it's like a spaceship. The day was wet and as it was a test day for many other drivers and the track was busy." Keohane's lap times were very creditable, especially given the longevity of his absence although he underplayed his performance. "Knowing the circuit (Donington Park) was a big help."

Team boss Wayne Douglas said, 'I suppose it's a long time but then he's (Michael) always talked about it. Michael has a big commitment to the company (Keohane Readymix) at home, this championship is over five weekends that are spread out over six months. The test went really well, he really got into it straight away. We had a Pro driver (Martin Plowman) and he did a few runs in the morning when it wasn't as wet and Michael was out in the afternoon, they were on the same pace."

Douglas made notable comparisons, "From 20 years ago in Formula 3 with 170 horsepower to 600+ horsepower (650hp with the push to pass) this is a big change, it's (the McLaren) a proper piece of kit. The technology is more like a World Endurance car."

Douglas Motorsport, in a partnership with Paddock Motorsport, will run Luca Magnusson (younger brother of ex-Formula 1 driver Kevin) in the series in 2026 as they share technical resources. Keohane has yet to ink the deal but the process is gathering momentum.

The rounds of the 2026 McLaren Trophy Europe series are: 1. Monza, Italy (May 29-31); 2. Spa, Belgium (June 25-27); 3. Misano, Italy (July 17-19); 4. Barcelona, Spain (October 2-4); 5. Portimao, Portugal (October 16-18). Each race weekend is a double-header.