O’DONOVAN REWRITES THE RECORD BOOKS
In torrentially wet conditions, at the oldest rallycross circuit in the world, 18-year-old Patrick O’Donovan dominated to become the youngest-yet British Rallycross champion in emphatic style.
O’Donovan entered the event with a significant advantage at the head of the points’ standings, but still needed to score in the final double-header weekend to be assured of the crown.
With the 5 Nations BRX series racing at the revised Lydden Hill circuit for the first time, following changes made for the Nitro Rallycross event earlier this season, O’Donovan overtook title rival Julian Godfrey in the first corner of his Q1 race and drove to victory and the fastest time in greasy conditions, his effort substantially quicker than that of Derek Tohill who won the second race amid heavier rain. As conditions worsened through the day, O’Donovan was again fastest in Q2 to claim the Top Qualifier position.
Having secured eight of the 11 points required to put the title out Godfrey’s reach, O’Donovan then stalled on the startline of the first semi-final, the revs too low on his Ford Fiesta to get away from the line cleanly.
At first, it appeared that the title fight would be extended to the final round on Sunday, but, O’Donovan delivered arguably the drive of the season and his career by storming back through the field, ultimately passing Godfrey over the circuit’s jump for the lead on the penultimate tour to claim the win and pole position for the final.
In the last race of the day, held after nightfall under floodlights, O’Donovan was the only driver to experience a clean run, the Fiesta pilot storming to victory by almost 40 seconds, lapping half the field on his way to victory and the title, the FIA RX2e race winner superseding 2016 champion Dan Rooke as the youngest-yet title winner.
Godfrey finished the final in second, having battled with
Ollie O’Donovan in the opening laps, while Tohill, the outgoing champion, salvaged third, despite spinning into the wall in the chicane and losing the rear spoiler. Tohill made it through to the final even with a pair of front punctures in the semi-final that almost put him out of the event. Mike Sellar, Swedish guest driver Daniel Thoren and Steve Hill completed the top six.
Even heavier overnight rain waterlogged the circuit meaning the final round of the Supercar campaign was forced to be abandoned, while the supporting classes, which were running a single-event over two days, were denied the finish of their event. As Motorsport News went to press, a decision was yet to be taken on the outcome of proceedings for those categories. Results
Organiser: LHMC When: November 5-6 Where: Lydden Hill Starters: 84
Round 10: 5 Nations BRX: 1 Patrick O’Donovan (Ford Fiesta) 5m18.447s; 2 Julian Godfrey
(Ford Fiesta) +38.030s; 3 Derek Tohill (Ford Fiesta) +46.581s; 4 Michael Sellar (Citroen DS3); 5 Daniel Thoren (Volkswagen Beetle); 6 Steve
Hill (Mitsubishi Evo).