Keene ready for “formidable task” with MSR Acura

Keene, who ran Chip Ganassi Racing’s IMSA Prototype program before joining Panoz DeltaWing in June 2014, signed up with Michael Shank’s team as it enters the GTD class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, running two of the new Acura NSXs.

Said Keene: “I've always held Mike Shank in very high regard as his passion for racing is without question, and his team is always considered a threat come race day. When Mike approached me about the possibility of working together on the new Acura NSX project, it was his excitement that led me to this decision.

“I know we are both looking forward to the challenges, and I'm honored to be a part of a program that will immediately be challenging for wins. There's a very formidable task ahead and I'm ready to hit the ground running.”

Keene admitted, however, that he will retain a soft spot for his ex-colleagues at DeltaWing, which three times finished in the top five this year.

“I want to say thank you to Don Panoz for everything he has done for me the past couple of years,” said Keene. “He and everyone that's part of the DeltaWing Racing Team will always have a fan in me, and I wish them all the best moving forward.”

Shank, who saw his team win overall at Petit Le Mans, said Keene was the right man on whom to shift some of the team managerial responsibilities, going forward.

He commented: "Our partnership in 2017 with Acura requires the best people in the business. Tim brings a level of experience in a top role that we have never had before.

“Tim will be able to advance our preparation and allow me to continue expanding our relationships with Honda/Acura as well as our long term planning and marketing efforts.”