TF Sport has been forced into an early-season driver change ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) opener, after Ben Keating sustained an injury in a training accident.
The American driver suffered a broken elbow, ruling him out of both the Imola Prologue and the opening race later this month. In addition, he will also miss the second round of the season at Spa in May, dealing a significant blow to the team’s LMGT3 campaign.
As a result, Blake McDonald has been drafted into the TF Sport line-up for the opening two rounds. He will take Keating’s place in the No. 33 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, partnering Jonny Edgar and Nicky Catsburg.
Importantly, McDonald is already well integrated within the team. He competed with TF Sport in the Asian Le Mans Series over the winter and is also part of its European Le Mans Series programme in the LMGT3 category. Consequently, his familiarity with the car and team environment should ease the transition.
Furthermore, McDonald brings solid GT racing credentials. The FIA Bronze-rated driver impressed during last season’s GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, where he competed in a Corvette and emerged as one of the standout performers within his classification.
Therefore, TF Sport can be confident that the replacement driver has both the pace and experience to contribute effectively during Keating’s absence.
Focus on recovery ahead of Le Mans
Meanwhile, attention now turns to Keating’s recovery. TF Sport has confirmed that he will undergo a rehabilitation programme with the aim of returning to full fitness in time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
While his absence will be felt in the early stages of the championship, the team remains hopeful that he can make a timely comeback for one of the most important races on the calendar.
