More Americans may race in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year, with Viper Exchange Racing owner and driver Ben Keating and Riley Motorsports looking to field a Viper GTS-R in the series’ GTE Am category.
Keating told Sportscar365 he’s evaluating the switch from IMSA to the WEC for next season, with 2016 likely being the Viper’s last year of eligibility for GTE-Am. He also said he “already had the plan of hoping to go back to Le Mans,” so the easiest way to ensure he gets one of the coveted spots on the grid is sign up for a full WEC season.
Nothing is set in stone yet, as Keating is still considering a return to IMSA as well. He made his FIA WEC debut at Le Mans last year in a borrowed GTE-spec Viper chassis, and has since purchased two GTS-Rs of his own.
“There are a lot of positives and negatives going both ways,” Keating told Sportscar365. “I own these two GT3 cars and I own two GTS-Rs. I’ve got the cars to go and do either.
“WEC has been extremely welcoming. They enjoyed having us at Le Mans and they’ve made it very clear they would love to have us in the series for the full season.”
Keating said he’s in no rush to make a decision in regards to his foray into the FIA WEC, with plans to go ahead with testing on both the GTE and GT3 spec chassis. He seems to be leaning more towards a GTE Am entry, though, saying a change of scenery is desired.
“We’ve done series in America, so we’re pretty much engrained on this continent. It would be nice to throw a curve ball every now and then,” Keating said.
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