Ollie O’Donovan finished on the podium at the Procters Coaches MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix at Croft Circuit, driving the Team RX Racing Ford Focus Supercar, despite racing through the entire Grand Prix final with damaged rear suspension.
The London-based driver ran well through the heat stages, qualifying on the outside of the front row for the final. In the run to the first corner he climbed to second position, but was hit in the right rear wheel, breaking the rear suspension. O’Donovan hung onto second position until the end of lap four, when he was passed by Andy Scott. O’Donovan pushed Scott hard to the finish, but was grateful to make it to the chequered flag in the damaged Focus.
“We were consistent all day, which was brilliant considering we were down about one hundred horsepower compared to the others. In the morning, I really didn’t think we would make it to the final, so be to be on the front row, we were more than happy” said O’Donovan.
O’Donovan missed out on third place to Kevin Procter by a single point in the MSA British Rallycross Championship as the team were dogged by electrical problems in the final round.
“Saturday was the worst day in my rallycross career. I was last in every heat, timed practice, everything. It was just unlucky. I really felt for the boys on Saturday, they worked so hard to get the car going right and it’s thanks to them I made it to the podium on Sunday.”
Also running under the Team RX Racing banner at Croft, Mitsubishi Evo driver Steve Hill scored a pair of fifth place finishes to claim sixth overall in the championship standings.
The team now heads to Italy, where O’Donovan will return to his Ford Fiesta Supercar for the final round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at Franciacorta.
