O’Keeffe cruises to breakthrough TCR glory

Dylan O’Keeffe overcame a challenge from Tom Oliphant to get a maiden TCR win with Ashley Seward Motorsport at Symmons Plains.

Due to the inverse top 10, O’Keeffe inherited pole and made the most of it to lead all 30 laps in the second TCR race at AWC Race Tasmania.

But he had to work for it in the Lynk & Co as former Ashley Seward Motorsport driver Oliphant launched a big mid race attack.

However, despite having a small gear shifting problem, O’Keeffe stayed cool to pull out a full second in the final 10 laps to secure the victory.

It was breakthrough result for both driver and team being O’Keeffe’s first in TCR since Queensland 2019 and Ashley Seward Motorsport a first with the Lynk & Co badge.

O’Keeffe managed to convert pole into an early lead but he had to contend with a fast starting Aaron Cameron.

Cameron was all over the back of O’Keeffe by the end of the opening lap, but his challenge for victory soon vanished through no fault of his own.

Cameron was shadowing O’Keeffe in the braking area on approach to the hairpin but behind him  Will Harris got it badly wrong.

Harris locked up, found the grass and could not stop himself from torpedoing Cameron into a spin.

As a result both cars were effectively out of the race with Cameron stuck in the pits for seven laps and Harris being stuck in the infield with heavy front end damage.

Up front O’Keeffe was in control leading Cox and Oliphant.

But it was the Hyundai that had the pace and Oliphant dived down the inside of Cox to steal second at the hairpin on lap 8.

Soon the Brit had his sights set on leader O’Keeffe and a fascinating battle for the lead unfolded.

Oliphant’s Hyundai was strong in and out of the hairpin while O’Keeffe’s Lynk & Co had better legs down the straights.

However, it was not as simple as a two-car battle with the Peugeot of Cox also on their tail as the top nine were covered by just 4s.

The trio were nose to tail by lap 18 but O’Keeffe’s smart placement of the Lynk & Co in the braking zones meant no move could be made.

By lap 21 O’Keeffe was able to open half a second on Oliphant and settle the intense battle for the lead.

Further back big names Buchan and D’Alberto were trying to creep closer to the top five and the pair found themselves in an intense scrap with Clay Richards.

Buchan was able to get by to secure sixth, but D’Alberto was unable to jump the Cupra and had to settle for eighth.

O’Keeffe was in control for the final 10 laps and cruised to a breakthrough win by a full second ahead of Oliphant and Cox.

The third and final TCR Australia race is at 15.15 AEDT.

Supercheap Auto TCR Australia round 2 race 2 results