Team
- Based in Victoria, TX
- Ben Keating, team principal
- Jeroen Bleekemolen, co-driver
- No. 33 Viper GT3-R
Victories
- 2015 Rolex Tudor 24 Hours
- Lone Star Le Mans at COTA
- First IMSA TUDOR win — CTMP 2014
- Two-time SRT Viper Cup champion
The Ben Keating racing program has grown into one of the most respected privateer efforts in North American sports car competition. Operating from a home base in Victoria, Texas, the team fields the distinctive Viper GT3-R in premier endurance and sprint events across the continent. Every season brings fresh challenges and opportunities to demonstrate the capabilities of a well-prepared machine in the hands of dedicated drivers and crew.
Central to the team's identity is a longstanding partnership with ViperExchange.com, which has helped sustain a competitive GT program through multiple seasons of IMSA competition. The collaboration between team principal Ben Keating and co-driver Jeroen Bleekemolen has produced consistently strong results, pairing seasoned racecraft with the raw character of the Dodge Viper platform.
The No. 33 Viper GT3-R carries a legacy forged at Daytona International Speedway, where the team captured a memorable class victory in the Rolex Tudor 24 Hours. That triumph, earned through two full rotations of the clock, remains a defining achievement and a testament to the endurance, preparation, and composure required to succeed in one of motorsport's most demanding events.
Beyond Daytona, the team has celebrated additional milestone wins that underscore its versatility across different circuits. A victory at the Lone Star Le Mans held at Circuit of the Americas brought a home-state triumph, while the program's first IMSA TUDOR Championship win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park demonstrated the ability to perform on a wide variety of track layouts and conditions.
The driver lineup has been anchored by Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen, whose complementary skills have created a formidable pairing in the GTD class. Their collaboration reflects a balance of strategic patience and aggressive pace, qualities essential for navigating the traffic and tire management demands that define modern GT endurance racing at the highest level.
Riley Motorsports provides the technical foundation for the team's on-track efforts, bringing decades of chassis and engineering expertise to the Viper GT3-R program. This partnership ensures that the car arrives at each event with meticulous preparation, from suspension geometry and aerodynamic setup to powertrain calibration, giving the drivers confidence to push from the first practice session.
The Dodge Viper GT3-R itself is a machine that commands attention wherever it appears. With its unmistakable silhouette, thunderous naturally aspirated V-10 engine note, and purposeful aerodynamic package, the car stands apart in a field increasingly populated by more common European machinery. Its presence on the grid is a nod to American performance heritage.
Endurance racing demands more than just outright speed. Fuel strategy, tire degradation, driver changes, and traffic management all play decisive roles over the course of a long-distance event. The team's success in races spanning six, twelve, and twenty-four hours speaks to a methodical approach that prioritizes consistency and error-free execution across every stint.
The team's roots in Victoria, Texas, reflect a distinctly American motorsport story, one built on passion, local automotive expertise, and a commitment to competing against factory-backed entries with independence and determination. This underdog spirit resonates with fans who appreciate seeing a privately entered Viper take the fight to the established GTD and GTLM contenders.
Looking ahead, the program continues to pursue opportunities in IMSA competition and beyond, always seeking to add new chapters to a racing history already rich with achievement. Whether at Daytona, Sebring, Road Atlanta, or other classic venues, the combination of experienced drivers, dedicated crew, and the unmistakable Viper GT3-R remains a compelling presence in sports car racing.