Keating gets to learn Monza in a winning way in Michelin Le Mans Cup (Updated - Post race DQ)

Joining up with Ross Gunn for this one off Le Mans Cup entry, the American so very nearly placed their #97 car on class pole position in todays earlier Qualifying session but was pipped to the post by the two Iron Lynx Ferrari’s.

Taking a delayed start to this evening’s race after barrier damage in an earlier race saw Keating take a clean start amongst the thirty-two runners but he had to take early avoiding action via a gravel trap to avoid a near stationary LMP3 car on the blind exit of the second Lesmo. That put the #97 car to last in class.

Next lap around and Keating was already pushing up to P4 in class, but everything was soon slowed down as a massive incident for the Team Virage LMP3 car and two other LMP3 cars brought out the Safety and Medical cars. Fortunately, all drivers were seen walking away and only fifteen minutes was lost to the clean-up and barrier repairs – tremendous work by those involved!!

Getting back to racing, it wasn’t long before the #97 was back up to P3 in class as further Full Course Yellow and Safety Car periods muted the flow of the race. At the top of the first hour, Keating pitted under the latest Safety Car to hand over to Gunn from P3 and a quicker stop from the TF Sport crew got him out before the two Iron Lynx Ferrari’s to assume the class lead for the first time.

As the shadows lengthened around the track, Gunn would only ever be threatened by the #2 Porsche but that would later collect a post-race time penalty for a pit stop infringement allowing Gunn to bring the #97 car home for a much-deserved class win and Keating much needed track time ahead of the final WEC round before Le Mans.

None points scoring of course, this result will boost the team not only for tomorrows ELMS race where their #95 AMR Vantage GTE will start from P3 but also for next weekend’s WEC race with all three TF Sport GTE cars being entered into August’s Le Mans 24Hr