Dylan o’keeffe

Determined O’Keeffe Secures Carrera Cup Top Three

Dylan O’Keeffe has equalled his career-best Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia series result, finishing third in the standings after a contest that was dramatically resolved in the very last race at the VAILO Adelaide 500.

Qualifying for the event did not go as well as O’Keeffe or his RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia team had hoped, and he lined up seventh and 12^th on the grid for the weekend’s first two races.

“Our car setup didn’t suit the track conditions during qualifying on Friday, and I struggled for balance,” O’Keeffe said.

Race 1 was a more positive affair, O’Keeffe pulling off some passing moves and dodging a couple of incidents to improve to third.

“We got a little lucky in the first race – a few of the cars ahead were involved in accidents, which I was able to avoid,” he said.

“But the car definitely felt better than it did in qualifying, and I had the pace to run in the lead pack.”

Starting down the order in Race 2, O’Keeffe concentrated on staying out of the typical mid-pack chaos and made up one place to finish 11^th.

“It was always going to be hard, starting that far down the field in the heat, so I just made sure I brought the car home in one piece,” he said.

The results from Races 1 and 2 saw O’Keeffe lining up fourth on the grid for the final race of the season, and trailing rival Jackson Walls by a solitary point in the contest for third in the championship.

An excellent start saw O’Keeffe moving up to third, right behind Walls. Stalking his opponent for the first two laps, O’Keeffe saw an opportunity at Turn 9 and seized his chance with a decisive lunge under brakes.

The two cars continued to squabble for position, Walls overtaking O’Keeffe at one stage before O’Keeffe recaptured the position with a skilful switchback. The high stakes contest was finally brought under control when the Safety Car was deployed due to a Turn 8 accident, with the race ultimately declared under red flag conditions.

“That last race was one of the most intense battles I’ve had, Jackson and I both wanted the top three championship result so badly,” O’Keeffe said.

“I saw my chance at Turn 9 and I was right on the braking limit – I only just made the corner.

“Then Jackson got me back a couple of laps later, and I knew I had to re-pass him straight away; with the Safety Car coming out, it was just as well I did.

“Full credit to Jackson for racing so cleanly, it was a tough battle but it was very fair.”

After finishing fourth in the last two Carrera Cup seasons, O’Keeffe was thankful to deliver his GWR Australia team a trophy at season’s end.

“Garth and the crew are so dedicated to the Carrera Cup programme and this is their best-ever series result, so I know it means a lot to them,” he said.

“A big thank you to everyone at GWR and RAM Motorsport, as well as Dexion and all my other commercial partners for their continued support.”