2018 Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship runner up Ollie O’Donovan admitted that he “didn’t perform at my best” at the final round of the season at Silverstone earlier this month.
O’Donovan finished runner up in the championship to title winner Mark Higgins driving the Team RX Racing Ford Fiesta Supercar and the Irishman admitted that the final round of the season didn’t go to plan.
He said: “We have been really quick all season in both the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta Supercar, but we just lost out at the end. I didn’t drive well enough at Silverstone, we had a few power issues and got stuck in traffic, but I also didn’t perform at my best. I couldn’t find any gaps to move up the order in the final, I tried everything I could and I just couldn’t get the breaks.”
“This has been a year of highs and lows. We have had the pace to win the championship and I think we’ve outraced our nearest competitors too. We should have had more wins but for things that have happened out of our control.”
O’Donovan at Silverstone earlier this month. Photo Credit: Team RX Racing
O’Donovan could only manage a fourth-place finish in the final round of the season, meaning he lost out on the overall title by just two points to Higgins and at Silverstone the 2007 champion was joined by former BRX Supercar title winner Dan Rooke in the teams older Focus Supercar.
Rooke. Who made his first Supercar appearance since taking the championship back in 2016 finished fifth in his one-off appearance at Silverstone.
O’Donovan added on his 2018 season: “It’s a shame and I am disappointed not to win the championship because we have all worked so hard, especially Tony (Bardy) and Sam (Clennell) who have worked tirelessly to give us the best car. Now it’s time to think about the future and see what we decide to do, but I’m no less hungry for fighting for wins.”
Patrick O’Donovan finished third in the final Junior BRX round of the 2018 season. Photo Credit: Team RX Racing
Ollie’s son Patrick also competed in the season finale on November 4 as his first season in the MSA Junior Rallycross Championship and after leading at the start in the final of the Suzuki Swift class, he ended up third by the end in another solid performance for the youngster after battling with Marius Solberg-Hansen throughout the race.
Patrick commented on his final round performance: “I did about six events this year, and feel I improved a lot every time I got in the car. I had a good day at Silverstone, after a difficult start I won twice in qualifying.”
“It’s been a brilliant season to get into rallycross and it’s been great to finish on the podium. I can’t wait for more next year. I have to say a huge thanks to all of my sponsors for their support, but especially my dad.”
The opening round of the 2019 Toyo Tires MSA British Rallycross Championship will also take place at Silverstone, with the date set for March 24.
