O’Donovan returns to Supercar for British and World Rallycross

The man that beat current BTCC champion Andrew Jordan to the British Rallycross Championship crown, Ollie O’Donovan, is set to make his return to the Supercar division with immediate effect. The London based Irishman will contest the remaining rounds of the MSA British Rallycross Championship, starting his campaign at Knockhill in just over a weeks time (May 11). Significantly he will meet Jordan on track once again at the British round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship at the end of May (24 – 25).

O’Donovan won the British title in 2007, and almost defended his crown successfully; taking the fight to the last round at Mondello Park the following year. Since, he has been most focused on running the successful RX150 category in the British series, but is now returning to the division in which he made his rallycross debut.

“I’m excited to be coming back to Supercar. I would have liked to have raced at the previous round of the British Championship in Holland, but we didn’t do a deal on buying the car in time,” said O’Donovan who is especially excited to be racing in only the second ever World Rallycross event, and the first in the UK in his newly acquired ex-Kevin Procter Ford Focus; “I just want to be part of the World Championship when it comes here. Those boys are on a different pace, but if I could make the semi-finals I’d be happy. I know Lydden well, I like the circuit and I don’t think I’ll be a million miles away from someone like Andy Scott.”

The Irish drivers Supercar debut in 2006 was an impromptu overnight decision before an event at Pembrey in Wales. He had no test. Prior to his challenge to Julian Godfrey’s stronghold on the British series next week at Knockhill, he will have no test: “I won’t get time to test before Knockhill, but, i’ve never done a test in my life – always just get in and go! Julian has two wins and all the bonus points from the first two rounds, so it will be tough to challenge him for the championship. I’d like to be close to his pace in the dry, and if it’s wet, I hope I can give him a really good run for his money. I want to win an event by the end of the year!”

O’Donovan’s come-back will also herald the return of a another significant rallycross name, Tony Bardy, who will run the car for O’Donovan on events after Knockhill. “Tony will run the car, but he is busy with a rally on the Isle of Man for Knockhill, so we will run it there and then he will take over. I like Tony, we worked together for three years and had a good relationship. It’s great that i’m going to race a Supercar again.”

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