Reigning and former champions Patrick and Ollie O’Donovan will return to the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy this year targeting the defence of both the Drivers’ and Teams’ titles.

20-year-old Patrick O’Donovan secured his third straight 5 Nations BRX crown in 2024, while he also became the first British driver to claim an FIA European Rallycross Championship title in two decades, sealing the coveted title at the final round of the series in Portugal.

Formerly a rally driver, Ollie O’Donovan won the British Rallycross Championship crown in 2007. He claimed a first 5 Nations BRX victory in five years at the opening round of the 2024 campaign.

Last season the pair also defended the Supercar Teams’ title it won in 2023, and with the Teams’ Championship given a substantial boost with financial reward for 2025, Team RX Racing becomes the latest team to sign up for the concept.

But, while Patrick O’Donovan plans to contest a full 11-round campaign, Ollie O’Donovan will miss the second double-header of the season at his home Mondello Park circuit, while driving the iconic Peugeot 306 Supercar the Loheac Legend Festival event in France.

In the Lydden Hill season-opener on Easter Weekend [April 19 & 21], Patrick O’Donovan will race the team’s event-winning Proton Iriz RX. Ollie O’Donovan meanwhile will campaign the Team’s Ford Focus, with which the Irishman has previously claimed several wins.

Patrick O’Donovan:

“There has been a huge amount of uncertainty over the winter with the whole rallycross world basically, and as things stand we still don’t have a full programme confirmed. But, the 5 Nations BRX dates don’t clash with any of our other options, and it is always a pleasure to be able to race close to home. We have had an amazing run over the last few years, but the competition looks tough this year and I take nothing for granted. Starting as the champion probably just means the target on your back is even bigger, but I’m keen to push myself harder than ever to improve every time I get in the car. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m did a stage rally this weekend gone in Anglesey for a bit of fun and to get some seat time, ready to give some big sends for the fans at Lydden, to put on a good display and show how good rallycross can be.”

Ollie O’Donovan:

“I love racing our Ford Focus and Lydden is always a good place to compete. Sebastien Eriksson showed what the old girl can still do a couple of years ago there, and while the competition might be strong in the British Championship this season, I’ll give it a good shot. It is always nice to race alongside Patrick in our own team. That was, and continues to be, a dream of mine, and while we are able to do it, that is something I very much enjoy. I haven’t had much time in a car recently, but had a good day on the rally at Anglesey last weekend as a warm up, and we’ll just see how we get on at Lydden. I’m very keen to try and defend the Teams’ Championship though. That’s not about the drivers, it’s about the teams, and I think we have the best team in the paddock. It will be a shame not to be at Mondello but the Loheac Legend clash is unfortunate and that is an event I’m not prepared to miss.”

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