O'Keeffe 'honoured' by second Bathurst chance

November’s Repco Bathurst 1000 will mark a dream “second chance” on the mountain for Dylan O’Keeffe.

O’Keeffe was confirmed Wednesday to line up alongside Garry Jacobson in the #22 Team Sydney entry for the Great Race.

It will mark O’Keeffe’s second crack at the mountain, having made his debut in 2020 alongside Andre Heimgartner.

O’Keeffe was one of the surprise packets of last year’s race, finishing 11th alongside Heimgartner in the wet-dry epic.

"I’m honoured to get a second chance at the mountain,” O’Keeffe said.

"I am not making my debut this time so it brings a different type of pressure. I’m expecting a little more from myself this time around.

"I’ve followed Garry’s career and he’s a great driver. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

It has been a whirlwind Supercars journey for O’Keeffe, who made an out-of-the-blue main game debut for Garry Rogers Motorsport at the 2019 Gold Coast 600.

Called up in place of Richie Stanaway, who had been stood down for missing an autograph session on Sunday morning, O’Keeffe had never previously turned a lap at Surfers Paradise in a Supercar.

Last year, after he made his WTCR debut aboard a Renault in Belgium, O’Keeffe had to undertake two-week quarantine ahead of his Bathurst debut.

Restricted to a Sydney apartment, O’Keeffe borrowed a simulator to stay sharp.

O'Keeffe was only released from quarantine on October 12, which was the Monday of race week.

He was trusted by the Kelly squad to start the race, and completed a trouble-free opening stint. He handed over to Heimgartner on lap 13, who completed a double-stint.

O’Keeffe took over the car, then in the top 10, on lap 51 amid a downpour which saw drivers return to the lane for wets.

He handed back to Heimgartner on lap 76, returned for his final stint on lap 97, and returned the car to Heimgartner on lap 117.

With just two Supercars starts to his name, O’Keeffe was looking forward to learning from Bathurst winner Jonathon Webb and 2017 podium finisher Fabian Coulthard.

"I’m also looking forward to being in the team and around Jonathon and Fabian who have so much experience in these Supercars and at the track,” he said.

"I feel I will be better prepared this year as well with some drive and practice days scheduled for me to become familiar with the team and the cars.

"Thanks to Team Sydney, the Webbs and PremiAir Hire for allowing me this opportunity."