O’BRIEN SHOWS HIS PACE ON BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUT
Skoda Fabia driver undimmed despite gearbox woe on Cambrian Rally
Rising Irish star Patrick O’Brien made an impressive British Rally Championship debut on the recent Cambrian Rally.
Though he ultimately had to retire his Skoda Fabia R5 during Saturday stages due to increasing gearbox issues, O’Brien had shown strong pace on his first experience of rallying in Wales.
Partnered by his brother Stephen, the 25-year-old from Omagh was encouraged to do the event by both BRC contender Keith Cronin and the Motorsport Ireland Academy and immediately showed good pace against the frontrunning BRC crews and former World Rally Championship driver Oliver Solberg.
Four-time British champion Cronin suggested that O’Brien tackled the Cambrian. “I had a race with Keith Cronin at his home rally where I was beating and matching him on stages,” said O’Brien. “He told me I wouldn’t be far away at the BRC, so I came to see if he was right.”
On the stages that he completed on the Cambrian, O’Brien was close to the pace of leading
BRC drivers Ruairi Bell and James Williams.
O’Brien, who won this year’s Irish Forestry Championship, said after the recce: “This has been my first time in Wales but I’ve done gravel at home. The stages are fantastic. It’s my first time over here and I hope to do more.” O’Brien would be a strong title contender if he was able to put together a full BRC campaign next season.