20/04/2026
THE SEASON THAT WAS - COWARA MOTORSPORT
After such a promising debut 410 Sprintcar season together, the Cowara Motorsport team and their driver Michael Keen endured an interrupted 2025-26 season campaign.
With a top 10 finish in the 2024-25 season Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series point standings and the rookie of the year honours, the spirits were high within the Cowara Motorsport team for an even stronger following season with Michael, but, sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. Michael started his second 410 Sprintcar season in impressive fashion with eighth and fifth place finishes in the opening two rounds at the Perth Motorplex and it had him well placed within the Maddington Toyota Series point standings. However, a mistake during his fourth round at the Perth Motorplex in early December last year resulted in him receiving a six-week suspension and consequently missing the busiest time of the season over the Christmas-New Year period at the Perth Motorplex with the USA VS WA Speedweek Series and the High Limit International.
Making his return to Sprintcar competition in the middle of January following his unscheduled break, Michael contested a handful of 360 Sprintcar race meetings, which saw him finish second in the Western Australian Title on his return to the 360 class at Bunbury Speedway and finish on the podium. A few weeks later, the 30-year-old from Bunbury in Western Australia backed up that performance and score a third-place finish at the Perth Motorplex on a night when he was performing double duties between 410 and 360 Sprintcar competition. Michael completed his third and final 360 race meeting of the season with the best possible result at Bunbury Speedway in late February when he drove to the first feature race victory for the Cowara Motorsport team in nearly 10 years.
The remainder of the season with the Maddington Toyota Series saw Michael and Cowara Motorsport team show plenty of promise with his best result being a pair of top 10 finishes during the double header weekend at Geraldton City Speedway.
Although the season for the Cowara Motorsport team didn’t go exactly to plan, team owners Steve and Sharron Duggan were very thankful for the efforts of the whole team members and of course the team’s valued sponsors.
“It’s certainly been a season that has had its fair share of challenges, but I can’t thank our hard working pit crew enough for their continued efforts and the team’s loyal sponsors, which none of what we do would be at all possible without them all,” commented Steve Duggan.
“I’ve been running a Sprintcar team for over 20 years now and although this game comes with plenty of ups and downs, I’m still enjoying it and being able to see Michael’s progress in 410 Sprintcars over such a short time has been very satisfying.”
Stay tuned for updates regarding the Cowara Motorsport team’s 2026-27 season plans.
The Cowara Motorsport team would like to thank their 2025-26 season supporters:
MJB Industries Pty Ltd
Wight & Emmett Stock Feeds and Pet Store
Penrite Oil
Cowara Contractors Pty Ltd
Shepheard Vacuum Truck Services
Anstee Demolition & Civil
Boyanup Cellars
Maxwill Racing Engines
J&S Drilling
Samios Plumbing Bunbury
RaceClear Tear Offs
Southwest Auto Detailing
Autosmart WA - South West
Photos: Richard Hathaway Photography / Motorsport Media Australia
