Productive weekend gives Keohane lead
Monday, 11 June 2001 13:55A productive weekend for Ireland's Michael Keohane saw the 21-year-old move into a joint series lead after rounds 11 & 12 of the Green Flag British F3 championship at the new Rockingham Motor Speedway.
Keohane made up for a disappointing qualifying to finish third in round 11, which he then bettered in round 12 by taking second place, results which took him to the top of the championship standings. Driving for the Irish Meritus Racing team, Keohane by his own admission had a disappointing qualifying session where he was fifth fastest for race 1 and sixth on the grid for race 2. However two blistering starts ensured podium finishes for the Clonakilty racer. The bonus for Keohane is that Northern Ireland's Matthew Gilmore, who led the Championship prior to Rockingham, could only register 8th and 4th in the two races to take him back into the pack.
Keohane, who took an extra point in round 11 by virtue of recording fastest lap, is joined at the top of the table by Britain's Robbie Kerr who took a double championship victory at the Corby circuit, venue for a round of the America Champ Car Series in September. "Naturally I was disappointed after qualifying but I found the infield section to be quite difficult", said Keohane. "However I was determined to gather as much points as possible in the two races and I was helped by two decent starts. The Championship is very tight now and my main rival would appear to be Robbie Kerr after his two race wins." Rounds 13 & 14 now takes the cars and their teams to Castle Combe on June 24th where Keohane will hope to take the outright championship lead for the Meritus Racing team.
Filed by Pat Nugent
