TREVOR KEATES JOINS SON JAMIE IN MANNPOWER LINE-UP

Trevor Keates will make his debut in the Vertu MINI CHALLENGE this season after joining son Jamie in the Mannpower Motorsport line-up.

The Norfolk-based team, which joined the MINI CHALLENGE family back in 2019, will embark on a new challenge this season as it expands into the JCW category for the first time.

Jamie will remain in the Cooper class for a second year seeking to build on the strong results he secured following his move to the Mannpower squad in the latter stages of 2023.

His best result of the season came in Mannpower colours in the final meeting of the campaign at Brands Hatch with eleventh in race two, and – with a year under his belt – will now seek to build on that performance to regularly push into the top ten.

“I’m really happy to be continuing in the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy with Mannpower Motorsport this season,” he said. “We had an extremely positive showing in the final rounds of last year at Brands Hatch and hopefully we can carry that momentum into the new season and start things off strongly.

“We’ve already had the chance to shakedown the car, which ran faultlessly, and I can’t wait to get things underway.”

Trevor meanwhile becomes the first driver that will compete for the team in the headline JCW class during the year ahead.

The elder Keates will be making a return to competition having competed in various series in the past, including the Classic Touring Car Racing Club and Britcar.

“I’m really looking forward to joining Jamie as part of the Mannpower line-up this season, particularly when I’m going to have the chance to race a JCW,” he said. “It’s going to be a big challenge, but I’m confident that we can challenge for some good results as the season goes on.”

Team boss James Manning expressed his delight at confirming the first members of his line-up for the 2024 campaign.

“We are pleased to have both Jamie and Trevor onboard for the 2024 Trophy and JCW Championships,” he said.

“With Jamie’s strong performance with us at the end of last year, paired with the experience that the team has gathered during the last five years of competing in the Cooper class, we are excited to build on that going forward.

“Trevor entering into the JCW category is an exciting new challenge for the team and one we are keen to pursue so we can show that the team is capable of being competitive in the premier class of the MINI CHALLENGE.”