It should perhaps have come as little surprise. Patrick O’Donovan was already a winner in both the FIA European Rallycross Championship and FIA RX2e Championship, and two times a British Rallycross Champion – but still, not many forecast a podium finish for the talented young Brit on his FIA World Rallycross Championship debut. Yet that is exactly what he delivered.
As a ‘wildcard’ entry for Hansen World RX Team in Hong Kong, O’Donovan was keeping his expectations firmly in-check, describing the opportunity as the greatest challenge of his burgeoning career to-date. Then in the first competitive session – qualifying practice on the Saturday morning – he went third-quickest.
The 19-year-old missed out on a spot in the final that day by a mere 14 thousandths-of-a-second, but he more than made amends 24 hours later, vaulting from the back of the grid up to third in the last race of the weekend and thereafter artfully fending off 2019 world champion Timmy Hansen to reach the rostrum in only his second outing at the highest level.
As statements go, it was impressive indeed.
2023
Stats
World
RX Starts:
2
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Finals
Reached:
1
Best
Result: 3rd
Points: 22
Championship
Position:
11th
Finland
Italy
Hungary