Justin Keen signs for Honda

[Craig]

New Forest motor racer Justin Keen has clinched the "chance of a lifetime" drive for Honda in the British Touring Car Championship.

Keen has signed up to drive a works Honda Civic Type R in the 2004 BTCC after fears he had missed out on one of the most sought-after seats in British motorsport.

The ex-European Formula 3000 star from Beaulieu has been negotiating with Honda all through the winter, but just days before closing the deal there was a financial setback which put the whole thing in jeopardy.

Keen explained: "My agent Chris Braun has done some serious negotating over the last two days to keep the drive open for me and I'm delighted to say the seat is mine after all and that I will be testing Honda's new car in Spain next month."

The Honda Civic was front-runner in the hands of drivers like Matt Neal last season and according to Keen the new cars which he and teammate Tom Chilton will drive in 2004 look like being even better. "They have developed the car around everything they learned in 2003," says Keen.

It's Keen's ability as a driver which has earned him his first ever chance to drive in Britain's most popular championship after Formula One.

After coming out of the Silverstone racing school as the star pupil as a teenager, Keen, now 28, cut his racing teeth in Formula Ford and Formula Palmer Audi in which he finished runner-up in 2001.

A year later he moved up into the European Formula 3000 Championship, just a rung below Formula One, and posted top ten finishes for the Minardi junior team.

Last year he demonstrated his versatility by switching to sportscar racing and achieving a string of high places for Lola Cars in the prestigious FIA Sportscar series.

His most eye-catching performances were a fourth place in the Spa 1000km Championship and fifth in the Le Mans 1000km event - a performance which had the big teams like Honda sitting up and taking serious notice.

His big dream was to graduate to Formula One, but he admitted: "The budget for racing single-seater cars at a high level is way beyond me.

"Because of that a progression into touring cars is the best way for me to go right now. Although I've never raced in the BTCC before, I'm confident I can go in, learn quickly and be a front runner in 2004.

"I'll be getting a good feel for the car in testing but right now I'm just so relieved I've got the drive. It was nice to know that they wanted me for my ability and not my money, but when it all went pear-shaped late last week, I thought: `here we go again, another good drive has passed me by'.

"This is the best chance I have had of establishing myself in British motorsport."

Source: http://www.thisishampshire.net/hamps...TORSPORT3.html

[Russfeld]

hmm, i dont really remember him in F3000

[Craig]

http://www.formulaone.free-online.co...drivers/jkeen/

He didn't really set the world alight so you probably wouldn't!

[redshoes]

who ???

[Russfeld]

I apologise for only focusing on "ex European F3000 star"

[Craig]

Precisely, Russfeld! His PR person seems to have been blinded by the light emitting from his arse!

[Kicking-back]

He's a solid driver though - and if he gets used to front wheel drive will do well in touring cars.

His F3000 deals have never been well funded and that often determines how fast you can get the thing to go.

[Russfeld]

Oh no question, he was actually quite good in the old pro-FPA series, I just found it amusing the spin they put on his very limited F3000 appearances

[rdjones]

The name is rings a bell, but don't that much about him.

[ATF]

So who will get the 3rd seat? They said Morrison was to be confirmed in 7-10 days (last Thursday). Any news?

[speedy king]

Originally posted by Craig Antill
Precisely, Russfeld! His PR person seems to have been blinded by the light emitting from his arse!

Here we go again. Ruling a driver out when he hasn't even driven the car yet I wish people would keep their mouths shut and opinions to them selves until the driver has started racing

[Craig]

Who's ruling out a driver? I may well be ruling out the grip on reality of their PR person though...

[rdjones]

I take it that he will driving for Arena, rather the TD

[Kicking-back]

Yes.

[Craner Curves]

I can hardly contain my excitement.....

[Russfeld]

Whats the entry list up to then for "Class A" cars

[Craig]

About six so far isn't it...? How inspiring...?!

[Russfeld]

6? I thought they were going to be at least that many Vauxhalls and Hondas, plus the two Protons looking very pretty on the back of the grid, just behind those weird Spanish cars.

[SPARK Msport]

for a moment I thought it was Justin Wilson when they started talking about F1 - "had missed out on one of the most sought-after seats in British motorsport."

Anyway...I'll agree with many of you my first impression was `who`? But he looks as tho hes good having been in F3000 and done some sportscar racing. It will be interesting to see how he goes upagainst the likes of Yvan, Thompson and Neal.

[kmchow]

Originally posted by Craig Antill
His big dream was to graduate to Formula One, but he admitted: "The budget for racing single-seater cars at a high level is way beyond me.

This is always a highly controversal question, but does Keen have to bring money to get this Honda seat? Is Honda requiring drivers to bring money?

[cos]

Well this is a surprise! Didn't hear his name being bandied about in the silly season (apart from the CART one).

[touringlegend]

I've heard his name mentioned before re the Honda seat.

Not a driver I know off so can't comment on him.


PS - craig is being a little conservative in his entries everyone..i make it twice that at least and thats just the works/semi-works.

[Craig]

Yes, TL is correct, my apologies to any Americans that are reading this - it's called irony.

[Jonny Apex]

I'm surprised that so many people who apparently follow motorsport haven't heard of/don't know much about Justin. He was a title contender in National FFord Zetecs in the mid-Nineties (works Swift and Van Diemen teams) and has raced in high profile championships since (FRenault, FPA, F3000, FIA Sportscars). He is quick but, best of all, has been known to lose his temper with other drivers ...

I think there'll be close to 20 BTCC spec cars on the grid.
3 factory Vauxhalls/2 GA Vauxhalls/3 Arena Hondas/2 Dynamics Hondas/2 WSR (factory) MGs/1 Kartworld MG/2 Protons/1 Synchro Honda.

In limbo, you've got Collard's Astra (if he hasn't got a drive elsewhere), VLR's two Peugeots and maybe even a third WSR MG.

ETC spec, you've got 2 factory SEATs/1 GA Alfa Romeo (Breeze)/2 (supposedly) Varta Hondas.

I also think it would be foolish to rule out an Edenbridge BMW (Peter Briggs is a true racer and I'm sure will work very hard to make it happen) plus the RJN Nissan Primera.

Unfortunately, with the way the sport is at present (in every category), many deals don't get cut until the 11th hour. It's been the same for some years now. Some people will cut crazy deals because they have to race out of pride and passion even if that means only just breaking even or possibly at a small loss.

[ATF]

I reckon a few extra entries will appear, come Media Day, that everyone was doubting. Like the MGs last year, which weren't confirmed until quite late!