Dylan O’Keeffe will be aiming to finish the 2019 Dunlop Super2 Series as the highest-placed rookie, when the season concludes at the Coates Hire Newcastle 500 this weekend.
O’Keeffe is currently sixth in the standings, just 11 points behind the fifth-placed driver, and says learning the tight and unforgiving Newcastle street track will be one of the biggest challenges of the year.
“I visited the Newcastle event last year as a spectator, but I’ve never raced there,” O’Keeffe said.
“I enjoy the challenges of street circuits, but this one will be taking it to a whole new level – it has all the usual characteristics of street tracks including bumps, painted lines and concrete walls, but there are also a lot of elevation changes, especially heading up Watt Street and down the hill through Shortland Esplanade.
“There aren’t many overtaking opportunities, although this year there has been a change to the Turn 11 hairpin, which will hopefully make it a bit easier to pass cars.”
O’Keeffe said the 2018 form of his Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodore is a boost to his confidence heading into the weekend.
“Chris Pither, who was driving the car I’m racing this year, was very fast at Newcastle last year – he qualified on pole for both races, and finished on the podium on his way to wrapping up the championship. The setup was obviously good, so it gives us a solid base to work from,” he said.
“It’s GRM’s last weekend in the main game Supercars Championship, so the end of the weekend might be a bit emotional, but for now it’s business as usual.”
Dunlop Super2 Series – Round 7 Schedule
Friday, 22 November
10:35am – Practice 1 (40 min)
2:00pm – Practice 2 (40 min)
Saturday, 23 November
10:20am – Race 1 Qualifying (15 min)
2:50pm – Race 1 (21 laps)
Sunday, 24 November
10:50am – Race 2 Qualifying (15 min)
2:50pm – Race 2 (21 laps)
