17-year-old O’Donovan graduates to 5 Nations BRX Supercar

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Reigning RX150 Rallycross Champion and Motorsport UK Young Driver of The Year Patrick O’Donovan will race a Ford Fiesta Supercar in the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy this season.

O’Donovan will be the youngest driver in the field when he climbs aboard the Team RX Racing Fiesta for the first time at Lydden Hill next month, driving the car that his father Ollie, the 2007 Champion, has raced in recent years.

During his short career so far, that began when he was just 14-years-old, O’Donovan has won events in the Junior RX category, and claimed the RX150 title last season in his first full campaign. He has also raced on the international stage in the FIA World Rallycross Championship’s RX2e all-electric category, and will now compete at the highest level within 5 Nations BRX in a car run by Tony Bardy Motorsport.

O’Donovan has undertaken a number of secret tests in the off-season in preparation for joining the growing 5 Nations BRX Supercar entry, including this week at Pembrey Circuit in South Wales, a venue that will host four rounds of 5 Nations BRX this year, joining Lydden Hill (England), Mondello Park (Ireland) and Dreux (France) as part of the 10-round Supercar schedule.

“This is a dream come true. My first Supercar test, which was actually in the team’s Ford Focus was indescribably amazing and not at all how I expected it to be – it was much faster! The lap times are very similar to the RX2e cars I raced in World RX last year, but there’s so much more going on inside in a Supercar, you’re very busy and it feels very fast. I’m so happy,” said O’Donovan.

“We have some very good sponsors involved this year and I’m working hard on that side to give me the best chance elsewhere in rallycross too moving forward, but this programme simply wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of my Dad, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity. We tested at Pembrey earlier this week with the car in its new livery and I just can’t wait to get out there now at Lydden for round one. I know I have a lot to learn, but in terms of aims it’s simple – I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and win the British Championship. That’s my only aim. The target is to be fighting for podiums and wins all year.”

The British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy will get underway at Lydden Hill for a double-header weekend on April 16-18.