Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week

Jeroen Bleekemolen says Ben Keating’s opening stint was the key to victory

by
6 years ago
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Jeroen Bleekemolen believes that Ben Keating's opening stint during the Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain was the key to GTE Am victory for the #57 Team Project 1 Porsche 911 RSR.

Keating started the race from pole position and put in an impressive opening stint of well over two hours for the team, completing his mandatory driving time in one go, thus saving the team a pitstop which allowed them to stay out front, beating the #98 Aston Martin Vantage AMR of Ross Gunn, Paul Dalla Lana and Darren Turner.

Speaking to Motorsport Week after the race, Bleekemolen explained just how vital the Texan's effort had been for the team.

"We knew we had a chance. We’ve always had a chance this season, just looking at the pace we had," the Dutchman said. "In the first race, we were unlucky so we had to start a lap down by the rules. All the other races we’ve been on the podium so far. To win, it’s always tough, there’s some really good teams. Everything has to go your way, but it did.

RelatedPosts

Andretti will be looking for a new partner for Jake Dennis for Formula E Season 12

Andretti Formula E team confirms driver exit ahead of Season 12

10 minutes ago
Lola Yamaha ABT confirm Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney as their drivers for the 2025/2026 Formula E season

Lola retains Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney for Formula E Season 12

35 minutes ago

Ben really set it up with a three hour stint. It meant we could do it with seven pitstops. Also great thinking by the guys from the team, but obviously really good driving from him to do three hours and not lose any time to some of the pro drivers in the cars. So, really impressive."

When asked if Keating's marathon effort in the early hours of the race had been the key to victory, Bleekemolen replied:

"Yeah, oh yeah. We had a gap of a pitstop more or less to the Aston and we did one stop less. So it would have been real close without him doing this long.

We would have been in the pits shorter with the eight stops, because you can shortfill and you have better tyres on average, so the pace would have been a little bit better. I had to save some fuel as well, but in the end, this worked out better. This was an easier way to get a gap and keep it."

Bleekemolen explained the team's rationale behind keeping Keating in the car for such a long time, also hinting that the IMSA veteran spent more time behind the wheel of the Porsche than originally intended.

"Most bronze drivers did one stint, then they pulled them out and then they did another one," Bleekemolen pointed out. "But the problem is: the drive time is two hours and twenty minutes, and you can only do one hour. So you can’t do it in two stints.

Normally, the plan was to do two stints and then a short one and then pull him out, but his pace was so good. So we asked if he could do a third one, a full one and he said ‘yeah, I’m fine and I’m feeling good’. And that was the key'

Share196Tweet123Share

Related Posts

Andretti will be looking for a new partner for Jake Dennis for Formula E Season 12
Uncategorised

Andretti Formula E team confirms driver exit ahead of Season 12

10 minutes ago
Lola Yamaha ABT confirm Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney as their drivers for the 2025/2026 Formula E season
Formula E

Lola retains Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney for Formula E Season 12

35 minutes ago
Mercedes casts positive take on Kimi Antonelli after ‘important’ F1 result
Formula 1

Mercedes casts positive take on Kimi Antonelli after ‘important’ F1 result

41 minutes ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Latest News

Andretti will be looking for a new partner for Jake Dennis for Formula E Season 12

Andretti Formula E team confirms driver exit ahead of Season 12

September 23, 2025
Lola Yamaha ABT confirm Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney as their drivers for the 2025/2026 Formula E season

Lola retains Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney for Formula E Season 12

September 23, 2025
Mercedes casts positive take on Kimi Antonelli after ‘important’ F1 result

Mercedes casts positive take on Kimi Antonelli after ‘important’ F1 result

September 23, 2025
Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd