There is always a Limerick connection: O’Donovan family relishing home event at Mondello Park
The FIA European Rallycross Championship heads back to Mondello Park this weekend for the first time in three decades, and the London-based O’Donovan family are relishing the prospect of returning home to compete.
Limerick-born racer Ollie O’Donovan, a former British Rallycross Champion and long-time stalwart of the European scene, forms a formidable two-car Team RX Racing effort with his son, Patrick O’Donovan. The duo are part of a major Irish contingent taking on Europe’s elite as the international competition lands in County Kildare.
“As a team, we’re feeling very excited,” Ollie O’Donovan said. “This is a big thing for us. We might be UK-based now, but we still have a lot of connections and roots in Ireland, and it’s great that the European Championship is back at Mondello after so many years away.”
Driving a yellow-and-green Peugeot 208 WRX, the senior O’Donovan is looking to bounce back from a heavy crash in wet conditions at the previous round in Sweden. To unlock their full potential on the reverse-direction Mondello layout, the team has focused heavily on rectifying their launch issues.
“The one thing that has been holding us back is that we haven’t been making the best starts,” O’Donovan acknowledged. “We’re hoping to resolve that issue during a test this week, and if we can just launch the Peugeot off the line, I really think we can get our elbows out and put on a show.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, he expects a tough challenge from local and international stars alike but remains highly optimistic for both himself and his son.
“I think Patrick will have the pace to fight for the podium, and I would like to make it into at least the Semi-Finals,” he added. “With such a large entry, more drivers miss out on the Semi-Finals than make it through, but I’m confident we have the potential to get that far at Mondello. If we do so, I’ll be a happy man.”
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