Ben Keating Strategic Shift: Longtime American driver Ben Keating announced his plans for the IMSA SportsCar Championship season at the end of the month. Keating will drive for United Autosports all season. He and Alex Quinn will drive the ORECA 07 team car. United Autosports is revising its strategy because the WEC will eliminate LMP2 in 2024.
The track evidence suggested Keating’s WEC position could be at risk in 2024. As GT3 cars replace GTE cars, fans wondered what would happen to Keating in the series.
Keating explains his decision-making process, revealing that his considerations go beyond changing cars. The Texan racer admits that he competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship to save time. His Corvette Racing title win, celebrated in Monza in July, was a fantastic way to end his WEC career.
“It’s less about GT3 and more about time,” Keating said. My current schedule is two full seasons and a third of the year at a race track. I must spend time elsewhere.”
“I’ve enjoyed my time in WEC, but there will be eight races next year, so I’ll be gone more. It feels like a decent moment to stop, especially after two wins.”
Keating’s choice is based on time’s ups and downs, a scarce resource that requires respect. After winning the title, he wants to be more balanced. This prompts a new IMSA chapter.
Despite leaving the WEC soon, Keating’s racing focus is still the Le Mans 24 Hours. Keating will return to LMP2 at La Sarthe in this endurance event after leaving in 2017.
IMSA bronze medalist Keating drives for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports. They had to hunt for something greater since getting into Le Mans was difficult, especially with the Jim Trueman Award.
“I realized that even if I win IMSA LMP2, I may not get the automatic entry,” Keating said. “The Jim Trueman Award automatically includes Daytona, but the championship does not.”
The intricate dance of race fate unraveled as Keating considered his chances. George Kurtz had a significant lead in the Jim Trueman Award race but hadn’t won at Road America. “I have to think about which teams are most likely to get Le Mans berths,” Keating remarked.
Keating’s approach relied on United Autosports. With WRT and JOTA in LMP2, WEC options were expanded. Keating’s PR1 deal was scrapped. Therefore, United was his only ticket through Le Mans.
“If I entered under my name, I don’t think they’d get an entry, and if PR1 entered, neither would they,” Keating reasoned.
Keating’s compass leads steadily toward Le Mans, and United Autosports is his vehicle for this long journey. In this narrative about time and chance, a driver wants to reinstate his name in endurance racing.
ALSO READ: Tim Edwards: Navigating the Twists and Turns of Australian Motorsport
Our Reader’s Queries
How many dealerships does Ben Keating own?
After completing his graduation in ’94, Ben Keating started his career as a car salesman at Covert Ford in Austin. With his hard work and dedication, he climbed up the ladder and took on various management roles. In 2002, he bought a small Ford store and since then, there has been no looking back. Today, the Keating Auto Group boasts of 28 dealerships and is the biggest privately owned auto group in the state.
Who is the race car driver in Victoria Texas?
Meet Benjamin Edward Keating, an accomplished American racing driver and successful business owner based in Victoria, Texas. With a portfolio of 28 car dealerships across the state, Keating is the proud owner of The Keating Auto Group. Born on August 18, 1971, he has made a name for himself in the racing world and continues to thrive in the business industry.
