Championship leader Patrick O’Donovan strengthened his grip on the 2025 Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy with a determined victory at Loheac, France (August 31), overcoming early setbacks to secure his fifth win of the season from seven rounds.
The iconic Loheac Rallycross, the biggest event on the European calendar, attracted a 35-strong Supercar field featuring regulars from the French Rallycross Championship alongside international stars. The weekend kicked off in spectacular fashion with a packed Friday parade through the picturesque village, setting the stage for an intense battle on track.
Drama in Q1: O’Donovan’s Engine Nightmare
Arriving at Loheac targeting an outright victory, O’Donovan’s campaign almost unravelled before it began. A broken cam belt and subsequent engine failure in Q1 threatened to derail his weekend. However, a lightning-fast turnaround from the Team RX Racing crew saw a new power unit fitted in time for Q2, sparking the reigning champion’s remarkable fightback.
Tohill Leads Early, Leonard Strikes in Q4
2021 champion Derek Tohill (Peugeot 208) emerged as the early benchmark for the 5 Nations BRX contingent, topping Q1 and staying at the sharp end through tricky, changeable conditions. Back-to-back second-fastest times in Q2 and Q3 kept him firmly in contention.
In Q4, rising star Michael Leonard (Murray Motorsport, Ford Fiesta) produced a stunning performance, going fastest of all BRX runners despite his team working tirelessly to repair a damaged turbo after an incident in Q3.
Qualifying Order & Semi-Final Showdown
By the close of qualifying, O’Donovan had clawed his way back to top BRX qualifier, ahead of Tohill, with both drivers progressing to the overall semi-finals. However, against a stacked field of European talent, neither Peugeot 208 WRX driver could deliver the semi-final result they hoped for.
Even so, O’Donovan’s pace and consistency saw him finish highest of the BRX challengers, earning a vital fifth win of the season to extend his championship lead.
Ovenden Shines as JGE Secures Teams’ Honours
Tristan Ovenden (Citroën DS3) enjoyed his strongest weekend of 2025, narrowly missing out on an overall semi-final berth but securing third among BRX drivers. Alongside teammate Julian Godfrey (Citroën DS3), who finished fourth, the JGE Team Goody Rallycross squad claimed the Teams’ Championship honours at Loheac.
Ovenden’s strong showing also means he now sits just one point behind Godfrey in the fight for third in the Drivers’ standings, setting up an intriguing battle heading into the closing rounds.
Strong Finishes and Career-Best Performances
Michael Leonard recovered superbly to finish fifth BRX driver home, despite the earlier turbo issue.
Michael Sellar (Volkswagen Polo) delivered arguably his best-ever Supercar performance against high-calibre European opposition, finishing sixth of the BRX runners.
John McCluskey and Gary Donoghue (both Ford Fiesta, MMS RX Team IRL) impressed on their Loheac debuts, securing seventh and eighth respectively.
Colin Anson (Mitsubishi Mirage) showed flashes of pace but was hampered by persistent electronic gremlins, denying him a clean run all weekend.
Heartbreak for Ollie O’Donovan
It was a weekend to forget for Ollie O’Donovan (Proton Iriz). After a promising launch in Q1, he was forced wide into the gravel at Turn 1, breaking the oil pump belt and suffering terminal engine damage. Despite his retirement, Team RX Racing retains the lead in the Teams’ Championship standings, keeping their title hopes alive.
Championship Picture
With his Loheac triumph, Patrick O’Donovan further consolidates his position at the top of the standings, while Derek Tohill strengthens his grip on second place. The battle for third overall tightens, with Ovenden and Godfrey now separated by just a single point.
