Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
O’donovan powers to win
Rallycross
Irishman Ollie O’donovan climbed from sixth on the grid to win the second round of the British Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill on Easter Monday.
The London-based Ford Focus driver snatched the lead on the final tour when rival Warren Scott, who was slowed by a puncture, took his joker lap.
O’donovan now leads the Supercar standings after round one winner Nathan Heathcote, from Pluckley, suf fered mechanical dramas and failed to reach the final.
O’donovan said: “I missed the start and was the last away from the line.
“But I had to really go for it after that and threw caution to the wind to catch up. I was able to pace myself and I knew I was catching them – it’s great to win.”
Scott, who took the lead at the start, received damage to the rear of his Citroen DS3 following contact with Kevin Procter at the first bend.
Scott said: “The contact crushed the rear of the car and I knew the tyre was going down after that.
“I had to keep as much speed up as possible through the right-hand bends as it was about damage limitation.
“But we had some good pace today and it is just a shame we could not convert that into a win.”
Former rally driver Oliver Bennett scored his first Supercar podium, finishing 10 seconds behind second-placed Scott.
Jake Harris took fourth despite missing fourth and fifth gear, while Procter, who was slowed by the contact with Scott, finished fifth.
Multiple champion Julian Godfrey was on course for a strong result before he struck a circuit marker and broke the front-right suspension on his Ford Fiesta.
In the Supe rnat ional championship, Tristan Ovenden was robbed of victory when the rear suspension on his Renault Clio V6 failed on the penultimate lap of the final. The Canterbury racer had controlled the qualification and semi-final stages but was sent spinning into the Devil’s Elbow gravel trap, gifting Paige Bellerby the victory.
“I couldn’t believe it after all that work,” Ovenden, who won the driver of the day award, said.
“I thought it was my fault to start with but the rear wheel had come loose and when I jumped on the brakes, I was just a passenger.”
Ovenden’s brother, Simon, claimed victory in the one-make Swift Sport class, dominating the event from start to finish.
The MSA British Rallycross Championship will return to Lydden Hill on August Bank Holiday Monday.