Ben Keating was named the racing champion of the Viper Cup series in 2011, and again in 2012. He also is head of the best selling Viper dealership in the United States, so it’s only fitting that he’d be the first to buy an SRT Viper GT3-R. The Viper GT3-R is SRT Performance’s racecar built exclusively for private race teams. Keating has put together a team to take on the United sports car Racing (USCR) series and will be racing with his co-driver, Jeroen Bleekemolen.
Bleekemolen has taken the gold at the FIA GT Championship in 2001, as well as at the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Dubai and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Such immense experience easily makes Bleekemolen a first choice for Keating for the upcoming 24 Hours of Daytona in January. While Keating has experience in racing, he’s not quite as professional in endurance racing.
“I don’t have the time to invest to be a professional sports car driver,” said Keating in a Sept. 17 press release.
He continued by saying, “However, I am passionate about racing and I’ve been successful in a Viper. I feel I can measure up extremely well compared to other amateur drivers, especially driving a Viper.”
It’s easy to see much confidence from the driver, who believes that he’s assembled the perfect team. As things fall together for Keater, we look forward to seeing the upper-hand they receive from using the fierce SRT Viper GT3-R. We’ll be watching.
(Source: driveSRT.com)
