Motorsport: Keohane return to come in Porsche Carrera GB Championship

In early December last, Keohane announced his return after some 22 years.

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026 - 12:32

Martin Walsh

West Cork's circuit racing returnee Michael Keohane has revised his comeback that will now see him compete in the Porsche Carrera GB Championship with the Warwickshire-based Century Motorsport outfit.

In early December last, Keohane announced his return after some 22 years as he eyed up the McLaren Europe Trophy series in a partnership between Douglas Motorsport and Paddock Motorsport.

That followed discussions with Wayne Douglas, who ran Keohane in his early single-seater career.

However, the race schedule including testing, meant that Keohane, an Irish Kart champion 30 years ago, was going to have to spend more time away from the family business, Keohane Readymix, than originally anticipated.

Instead and with full support from Douglas, it was decided to opt for the Porsche Carrera GB series that will run in tandem with the British Touring Car Championship over eight weekends between April and October, now viewed as more realistic option for all concerned.

A recent test with Century Motorsport in Donington Park proved very successful and Keohane and team boss Nathan Freke have now closed out the deal.

A winner of a monthly Irish Examiner sports award in April 2002, Keohane said: "The test went extremely well. I was very impressed with team boss Nathan Freke and the entire team and their ethos and was captivated by the unique family atmosphere within Century Motorsport, which was reminiscent of my previous racing experiences throughout my racing career."

During his Formula Renault and Formula 3 days, Keohane raced in many of the circuits that are this season's calendar.

"Hopefully that familiarity will help myself and Century Motorsport to make an impression. I am really looking forward to it all."

Team boss Freke was impressed with Keohane's ability.

"Mike bedded into the car straight away, took to it like a duck to water and then he came out smiling, so it was good. I expected him to be quick and yeah, he was, very quick. He got a good insight into how we operate and a good insight into what the car's like in the dry and also in the wet.

"He will be a really, really great fit with the other drivers we've got within the team and I think we will have a lot of success and a lot of fun together."

The full calendar is as follows: Donington Park (April 18/19); Brands Hatch (May 9/10); Snetterton (May 23/24); Thruxton (July 25/26); Donington Park (August 22/23); Croft (September 5/6); Silverstone (September 26/27); Brands Hatch (October 10/11).

Meanwhile, BWT Alpine Formula One Team has announced that Offaly's Alex Dunne has signed with the Alpine Academy ahead of the FIA Formula 2 Championship where he will race with Rodin Motorsport.

His car will sport the Alpine livery on this weekend's opening rounds in Melbourne as part of the F1 undercard.

"I aim to give my all for Alpine and doing my best as an Alpine Academy driver. It would be great to reward the team for their faith with wins and podiums and I am excited to work together with everyone in this next chapter of my career.”

Sexton Trophy Young Racing Driver of the Year award winner Derry's Fionn McLaughlin will race in the F3 card in Melbourne.

"The goal is to learn and develop, especially with only one year of experience in a car. We’re approaching this as a two-year programme in F3. The most important thing is building experience and continuing to improve every weekend.

"I understand that it will take time to consistently fight at the front and win races, that’s the long-term objective."

In rallying, reigning Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally champions Donegal's Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (VW Polo GTi R5) will headline Saturday's opening round, the Race & Rally Bishopscourt Stages.

Opposition includes Monaghan's Sam Moffett (Hyundai i20 Rally2) and five-time Northern Ireland champion Jonathan Greer (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who will be keen to erase the disappointment of a second-stage crash at last year's event.

Others include Stuart Biggerstaff (Ford Fiesta R5), eight times NI champion Derek McGarrity (Skoda Fabia R5), Derek McGeehan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Peadar Hurson (VW Polo GTi R5). The first of the day's eight stages begins at 9.00am.