MOTORSPORT: Aussie TCR racer gets a Belgian boost

The first graduate from the carsales TCR Australia Series will make his world title debut this weekend in Belgium.

Dylan O’Keefe, who was one of the speedy stars of the inaugural 2.0-litre turbo hot hatch series Down Under last year, will be racing a Renault Megane RS in the opening round of the World Touring Car Cup at the Zolder circuit after a successful pre-season test with the Swiss team, Vukovic Motorsport.

He is not expecting to win, or even podium, but is hopeful that a solid showing could lead to more than just a one-off race in Europe.

“From here, I hope it opens up some doors in the future. I didn't come just to do one race,” O’Keefe tells carsales from his new race base outside Zurich.

“No-one expects us to win, but we’re hoping for some good results. I’m hoping to spark some interest to keep me here.

“It’s pretty exciting. It’s all been last-minute.”

O’Keefe’s entry with a Megane RS TCR comes after a successful private test in Austria using parts developed by Garry Rogers in Melbourne to boost the competitiveness of the hot French hatch.

He is set to race a Megane for GRM in the second season of the carsales-backed competition, although the start date continues to move backwards and is currently timed for early November.

The WTCR series has also been badly impacted by the coronavirus and there will only be six meetings in 2020, all in Europe after the cancellation of the planned flyaway races including the two-driver enduro at the Bathurst International meeting.

“It’s made the championship a lot more affordable. That’s the reason the team have entered,” says O’Keefe.

He is not paying to race but has made a solid commitment to the WTCR start, if only for the quarantine he faces when he returns to Australia.

“I just had to get myself over here,” he says.

The WTCR competition promises to be hectic, with a top-class driver line-up headed by multiple world champion - and 2005 Sandown 500 winner in Supercars – Yvan Muller and former grand prix racers Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro.

“This week there is an open test on the Thursday, which should help us. We’ve got about six hours of driving to get everything organised.”

O’Keefe is definitely fast, and has tried in the past to graduate to international racing in Porsches, but is not getting carried away.

“At the moment it’s just a one-off, and I’m fortunate that Vukovic Motorsport have put me in. I’ve built up a great relationship. They’ve made me feel at home, they’ve given me an apartment, but I’ve had to work hard with the team. It hasn't just been a holiday.

“I’m a bit apprehensive. I don’t think it’s make or break, but there is no denying how difficult it will be.
“There are so many unknowns. It’s going to be an extremely competitive field with 12 factory drivers in the field.

“Someone told me if I finish in P13 that’s a good result. I knew that, but now I’m over here I know it’s pretty serious. We’re pretty much the underdogs, so hopefully we can take something to them.”