CHAMP O’DONOVAN SIGNS UP FOR 5 NATIONS RX OPENER IN FORD FIESTA
Hot shot to return this weekend as he decides on plans for 2024 season
Two-time and reigning British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy title-winner Patrick O’Donovan will revert to his championship-winning Ford Fiesta for the opening rounds of the campaign at Lydden Hill this weekend.
Having become the youngest-ever British Rallycross champion in 2022 with his family team’s Ford Fiesta, O’Donovan defended his 5 Nations BRX crown last season with a World RX-specification Peugeot 208.
With the 19-year-old yet to firm up his international plans for 2024, he will race the Fiesta for the traditional Easter Bank Holiday Lydden Hill event.
“It will be interesting to see what we can do, because it is far from the most modern car on the grid and it’s going to be competitive with quite a few different cars and drivers,” said O’Donovan.
“I always aim to win, so we will embrace the challenge. The car is different to drive compared to the 208, and the electric cars I’ve been driving recently, but I was driving the Fiesta at the Autosport Show in January and it feels a bit like a nice old comfy shoe when you get in it.”
Thirteen Supercars are entered for the first double-header weekend, including a return for event-winner Oliver Bennett, who will start as favourite in his BMW Mini that has recently been fitted with a fresh engine.
A number of Irish drivers will join the fray, including John McCluskey, Michael Leonard and Gary Donoghue in a trio of Ford Fiestas, and Ian Barrett in a Volkswagen Polo. Another former World RX Polo is also expected to join the grid. Champions Ollie O’Donovan (Proton Iriz) and Julian Godfrey (Citroen DS3) return.