Motorsport: Michael Keohane has changed up driving style after two-decade absence

West Cork's Michael Keohane pictured testing the Porsche Carrera GT3 with Century Motorsport in Donington Park. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Motorsport

The thrill of motor racing has never left Clonakilty's Michael Keohane, who returns to competitive action at this weekend's opening races in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB series with Century Motorsport at Donington Park in East Midlands. 

The Ballygurteen native - an Irish Karting Champion in 1996 - moved through various disciplines in single seater racing and now, 22 years after his last race, is back on track. Fittingly, his return is at one of the circuits where he enjoyed great success, particularly within the British Formula 3 Championship. First with Meritus Motorsport and then with Carlin Motorsport when in April 2002 he took a double victory - becoming the first Irish driver in 20 years to win a round of the British F3 series. 

Keohane raced briefly after the untimely death of his father Paddy, but returned home to concentrate of the family business Keohane Readymix. 

Announcing his return last December, he told the Irish Examiner, "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." 

Deciding that the Porsche series was best suited to the family business commitments, brings a challenge that Keohane is prepared for, both mentally and physically. "The Porsche will be very different to what I was used to in the single-seaters. The technique in driving the car is also very different. I've had to change my driving style quite a lot over the last number of weeks. Getting that technique is tricky." 

In the intervening years, the advances in technology have been very rapid. "A noticeable change since I was last racing is that the current drivers are doing an awful lot of work on simulators and they are on the pace straight away." 

He adds perspective, "When I come back (from testing and racing) the family business has to be run, but look, I am going back racing to enjoy it." 

The West Cork driver will compete in the Masters category and just this week he learned that the rule relating to having 15kg of ballast on board the Keohane Readymix liveried Porsche Carrera GT3 has been scrapped and that should allow him be more competitive. He concluded, "I want to go and enjoy it all. It's also very much about the people that are travelling with us, the people that support us and are around it all." 

Saturday's 30-minute qualifying session begins at 12.35 with Sunday's races at 12.10 and 16.35 respectively.

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Saturday's EARS Motorsport Munster Moonraker Rally is headlined by Cashel's Pat O'Connell (Ford Fiesta R5) followed by the trio of Northern Ireland drivers Mark Donnelly (VW Polo GTi R5), Jordan Hone (Skoda Fabia Rally2) and Gareth Mimnagh (Ford Fiesta Rally2). 

O'Connell missed the opening round in Mayo that was won by Donnelly, who will probably start as favourite. Monaghan's Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 R5), who last won the series in 2018, is contesting the full series and will be determined to improve on his fifth place in the opening round. The top ten also includes Niall McCullagh (VW Polo GTI R5); David Condell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and the ever- improving Stephen Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2). 

In the well-supported J1000 category, James Wray (VW UP) is the top seed. The six-stage event is the second round of the Trailer part and spares Irish Forest Rally Championship with the service park based at the Store All Logistics facility in Dungarvan. The first stage (Coolatoor) begins at 10.16am.

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Meanwhile, reigning British Rally champion Moira's William Creighton (Citroen C3 Rally2) and fellow Northern Ireland drivers Philip Allen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are amongst the entry for the 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site, the opening round of this season's European Rally Championship that, after last night's one-kilometre super special, really begins today. 

Creighton, with support from the MI Academy, teams up with Tagai Racing Technology and (for now) will campaign a Citroen C3 Rally2. Last week, Allen recovered from an early setback in Rallye La Llana but went on to claim four stage wins; Devine will be aiming to acquit himself well against the ERC regulars. Reigning ERC champion Miko Marczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) is the top seed. The Rally3 category is well supported and features the Irish quartet of Casey Jay Coleman, Craig Rahill, Cian Caldwell and Kalum Graffin, all in Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars.