The 2025 Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy launched in thrilling fashion over the Easter weekend at Lydden Hill (April 19 & 21), with reigning champion Patrick O’Donovan stealing the spotlight—and both main event victories—in front of packed crowds and a growing online audience.
Behind the wheel of his Team RX Racing Proton Iriz RX, O’Donovan wasted no time making his mark, setting the fastest time in Saturday’s opening qualifying heat (Q1). But it was returning 2021 champion Derek Tohill who struck back in Q2, unveiling a sleek new Peugeot 208 WRX Supercar and throwing down the gauntlet for the weekend ahead.
As the drama unfolded, it was 2007 champion Ollie O’Donovan (Ford Focus) who earned pole position for the round one final. That came after teammate Patrick O’Donovan was hit with a semi-final penalty, forcing him to fight from further down the grid.
Joining Ollie on the front row were six-time champion Julian Godfrey (Citroen DS3) and Tohill. But it was the younger O’Donovan who delivered the standout performance—charging from the second row, sweeping around the outside at Turn 1 to grab second, and then executing a slick move at the hairpin to snatch the lead from Tohill. From there, the reigning champ never looked back.
Tohill held off intense late-race pressure from Oliver Bennett (BMW Mini) to secure second, while Bennett settled for third. Ollie O’Donovan, Godfrey, and Tristan Ovenden (Citroen DS3) completed the top six.
Monday’s traditional Easter showdown played out in familiar fashion. O’Donovan again edged out Tohill at Turn 1 and controlled the pace from the front. Bennett, opting for an early joker lap strategy, found himself caught in traffic and had to settle for another third-place finish.
The MMS RX Team IRL bounced back from a tough Saturday, getting both cars into the final. John McCluskey (Ford Fiesta) led the team’s charge with a strong fourth-place result, followed by Ovenden and Ollie O’Donovan.
With a commanding double win to kick off the season, Patrick O’Donovan has made one thing clear—he’s not ready to give up the crown anytime soon.
BRX returns on 24th and 25th May as the teams head to Mondello Park in the Republic of Ireland for the first of two visits in 2025.
The RacerViews info
By Matt Hancock
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