Motorsport: Keohane nets double podium at Brands Hatch

It was Michael Keohane's first time competing on the GP circuit at the Kent venue,

West Cork driver Michael Keohane onboard his Keohane Readymix llveried Century Motorsport Porsche Carrera during the final race of the 2026 Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup GB series in Brands Hatch. Picxture: Martin Walsh.

West Cork racing driver Michael Keohane completed his comeback season (after an absence of 23 years) in Brands Hatch circuit in Kent where he netted a double podium in the final pair of races in the Porsche Carwow Carrera Cup GB series. It was Keohane's first time competing on the GP circuit at the Kent venue, his wins secured second in the Master's category of the series.

In Saturday's qualifying he was denied P2 in the Master's category on the very final lap of the thirty minute session by his Century Motorsport team mate UK driver Carl Cavers, who clinched the overall series last time out in Silverstone last time out.

Keohane made a great start in the first race and steered the Keohane Readymix liveried Porsche past Cavers. Setting much better times than his qualifying Keohane took second in the category behind Henry Dawes, who posted a best lap time of a minute 27.142s, Keohane's best lap was only 0.230s behind.

"I enjoyed the race, the car went well and I had a good pace. I really have no experience of the GP track, the Indy version I have raced several times, but this is totally different. It's good to get on the podium, the form in the last few races is strong."

In the final race of the day and indeed the season, Keohane began from P3 but had overtaken Cavers within a third of the opening lap. He quickly had Dawes in his sights, the pair almost on identical lap times, both incurred five second penalties for exceeding track limits as they pushed to the maximum.

Just when it appeared he was closing, Keohane incurred another track penalty and while he crossed the line in second in the category, he dropped to third behind Cavers.

Century Motorsport team boss Nathan Freke said "Overall, it's been a god season for Michael, a few DNF's at the start, but Michael has shown great improvement and has got some great results as the season progressed. Brands (Hatch) is a tricky circuit and it's tough competition as well, but overall it's been a good first season for sure."

Another Cork driver, Ballylickey's Colin Cronin made a late decision to compete in the Porsche Carwow Sprint Challenge Great Britain series. Despite no previous experience with the car he qualified P6 for the opening race and while he crossed the line in seventh, a five second penalty for exceeding track limits, demoted him to ninth. He was sixth in Saturday's second race and a very strong fifth on yesterday's third and final race.

Meanwhile, in the Donegal Harvest Rally (in Burt), the penultimate round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, Donegal town driver David Kelly took his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 to a start to finish victory. At the conclusion of the nine stage event he was twenty seconds clear of the similar car of Michael Boyle with Longford's Shane Quinn (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 19.7s further behind in third.

The opening loop of three stages proved tricky with the lack of grip the main topic from the top drivers. Kelly, who was the fastest through the opening stage, found it was hard to read the grip even though he opened up a 6.3s advantage over fellow Donegal and Skoda driver Kevin Eves, who was far from impressed with his own performance, especially in relation to braking and sections of shiny tar. Donegal's Ryan McHugh (Ford Fiesta Rally2) was just 0.1s further behind, he too highlighting grip issues.

Kelly also topped the time sheets on SS2 to add a fraction of a second to his lead that stood at 6.7s with second placed Eves putting in a steady run. Matthew Boyle spun but completed an all-Skoda top three - 15.5s off top spot. On the final stage of the loop Eves trimmed the margin back to 6.3s with rally leader Kelly admitting to backing off on the latter section of the stage. Michael Boyle leapfrogged brother Matthew into third. Desi Henry (Ford Fiesta Rally2) dropped a place to fifth followed by Aidan Wray (Skoda).

On the repeat loop Kelly and Eves continued to dominate with Matthew Boyle some 17.4s further adrift in third. Eves posted stage wins on SS5 and SS6 to leave just 1.6s between the pair. The Boyles, Michael and Matthew continued behind as Quinn moved into fifth, Desi Henry (Fiord Fiesta Rally2) slid off and retired on SS5.

Eves' push for victory ended with a puncture on SS7 leaving Kelly with 26.5s lead over Michael Boyle, whose brother Matthew retired due to an off road excursion. Quinn slotted into third, order was unchanged to the finish.