O’Donovan Completes ‘Childhood Dream’ with Euro RX1 Title Glory

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There is little question that Patrick O’Donovan has been the fastest driver in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s top-tier in 2024, and he duly clinched the coveted crown courtesy of a characteristically committed performance at Montalegre last weekend (7-8 September) – but true to form, there was more than a dose of drama along the way.

One of the most spectacular drivers in the sport, O’Donovan has attracted a huge fanbase for his all-out style, but a sluggish start in heat one in Portugal left him needing to overhaul – and subsequently stave off – title rival Yury Belevskiy, who made a few late mistakes of his own in evidence of just how much was at stake for the pair.The two-time British champion then got the better of Tamás Kárai following a crowd-pleasing doorhandle-to-doorhandle duel in heat two, as Belevskiy battled back from a lacklustre launch to similarly take a race win and keep the pressure on. O’Donovan notched up another five points in heat three, fending off a fired-up Máté Benyó despite running on distinctly second-hand tyres, while his Volland Racing adversary fought past Mikko Ikonen to likewise cement a maximum score.

Belevskiy continued to keep his hopes alive with a victory in heat four, but O’Donovan immediately responded, making light of a slow start to duck inside his fellow competitors in Turn One and seize a lead he would never relinquish.That earned the Team RX Racing ace pole position for the first of the weekend’s semi-finals, which he controlled throughout – in so doing, putting the destiny of the coveted crown beyond Belevskiy’s reach.

“We did it!” enthused the 20-year-old – the first British driver to win the European Championship since Richard Hutton back in 1994. “I spent the whole weekend trying to keep my cool, but my legs were trembling throughout and I felt sick before the semi-final.“I’m the happiest man in the entire universe – Sunday was the best day of my life, and a childhood dream come true. A massive ‘thank you’ to my parents, my partners and Sam Clennell Motorsport. We’ve won two British Championships together and now the European Championship as well. There’s only one more left…”

After dominating the other semi-final, Belevskiy joined O’Donovan on the front row of the grid for the final, which would turn out to be a classic rallycross bout. The newly-crowned champion did not get away well and then found himself edged onto the grass at Turn One by Kárai, dropping him to the tail-end of the order.Belevskiy was the key beneficiary as he vaulted immediately into the lead, with the Audi driver never under genuine threat and pulling out an advantage of almost five seconds by the time the chequered flag fell – his margin flattered somewhat by the various shenanigans going on further back.Behind the Swiss star, Damian Litwinowicz and Mika Liimatainen disputed second place – and third in the championship standings – until a collision as the Pole exited the joker on the penultimate tour sent both drivers spinning, ending Liimatainen’s race on the spot and earning the Finn a reprimand and championship penalty point.

Their misfortune played firmly into the hands of Benyó, who had only snuck onto he grid for the final following a track limits penalty handed out to Euro RX1 newcomer Julien Fébreau. Elevated to the runner-up spot by Litwinowicz and Liimatainen’s clash, the Hungarian’s third consecutive podium finish in 2024 also enabled him to leapfrog them both in the title table. Following his early delay, O’Donovan rounded out the rostrum after passing the wounded Litwinowicz for third.

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By Matt Hancock

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