Dylan O’Keeffe is expecting an action-packed final Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup round at the VAILO Adelaide 500 this weekend, as he looks to wrap up a top three position in the series points after finishing fourth in the standings the past two seasons.
The round has attracted a season-high 29 entries, and with the weather forecast suggesting a mixture of scorching hot temperatures and the possibility of rain, O’Keeffe is not underestimating the challenges that lie ahead.
“Saturday looks like it will be an absolute scorcher – it’s going to get up to 36 degrees, which means it will be well over 50 degrees in the car,” O’Keeffe said.
“Those conditions will be physically demanding, and then if we get rain on Sunday, the concentration required to make sure you don’t slip on a kerb or painted white line will be a real mental challenge; last year we were one of the fastest in mixed conditions, so hopefully that works to our advantage.
“Having 29 cars on the grid is great for the category, and it will make the competition even closer and more cut-throat.”
O’Keeffe enters the Carrera Cup round third in the standings and is currently in a purple patch of form, winning last weekend’s TCR round at Mount Panorama and recording podiums in the Carrera Cup and TCR rounds prior to that.
“The Bathurst weekend at the start of October was a tough one, but there have been some terrific highlights since then,” he said.
“The last couple of years I’ve come close to the top three in the Carrera Cup championship, but missed out at the end; this year I’m aiming to get the job done – it would be a great reward for GWR and RAM Motorsport for their efforts throughout the season.”
The Carrera Cup finale kicks off tomorrow with two practice sessions at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit.
Carrera Cup Round 8 Schedule
(times are in AEDT)
Thursday, 14 November
10:35amPractice 1 (25 min)
2:40pmPractice 2 (25 min)
Friday, 15 November
10:40amQualifying (30 min)
3:05pmRace 1 (40 min)
Saturday, 16 November
1:50pmRace 2 (25 min)
Sunday, 17 November
1:45pmRace 3 (20 min)
