After a lengthy break in the motorsport calendar, Dylan O’Keeffe returns to the driver’s seat of his #1 Dexion Porsche for Round 2 of the Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia Championship at Darwin’s Hidden Valley circuit this weekend.
Statistically, Hidden Valley is O’Keeffe’s strongest venue; he achieved his maiden Carrera Cup round win there in 2018 and chalked up a clean-sweep of race victories last year.
“Hidden Valley certainly has plenty of happy memories for me and I feel like last year’s round was where myself and the RAM Motorsport/GWR Australia team seized the momentum and set ourselves up for our charge to the title,” O’Keeffe said.
“Apart from the fact I’ve had great results up there, Darwin is just a great place to visit at this time of the year – for us Victorians, it’s nice to escape the cold weather and the atmosphere is so relaxed.”
While the environment might be relaxed outside of the car, a change in format will add an extra physical challenge for the drivers on the track. Hidden Valley marks the first of the new-for-2026 endurance-format rounds, which will see the drivers tackle a pair of 45-minute races rather than the two sprint races and single endurance race held in previous seasons.
With drivers now facing longer continuous periods in their cars in the scorching Darwin heat, O’Keeffe said physical preparation will be a high priority.
“The temperature in the car is normally about 20 degrees above ambient, so if it’s in the 30s outside, it will be over 50 degrees in the car,” O’Keeffe said.
“One 45-minute race on Saturday will be hard enough; having to back up and do it all again on Sunday will be a real test.
“I’ve worked hard on my fitness over the last few months, to make sure I can maintain full concentration in the car and not be affected by the heat.”
Practice will be held on Friday, with qualifying and racing on Saturday and Sunday; all sessions will be shown live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Round 2 Schedule
All times are Australian Central Time
Friday, 19 June
9:25am – Practice 1 (25 min)
3:10pm – Practice 2 (25 min)
Saturday, 20 June
8:40am – Qualifying (30 min)
12:55pm – Race 1 (45 min)
Sunday, 21 June
12:15pm – Race 2 (45 min)
