O'Donovan joins Albatec for RX Argentina
Albatec Racing will field a two-litre, 16v Peugeot 208 for 2007 British Rallycross Champion Ollie O’Donovan in the final round of the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship, presented by Monster Energy. The London-based Irishman will join regular driver Andy Scott aboard one of the team’s 600bhp Supercars in San Luis, Argentina over the weekend of 28-30 November.
The former Irish Tarmac Rally Champion was the man responsible from bringing Albatec Team Principal Andy into Supercars, after an invitation to join Ollie at Lydden Hill aboard his own ex-Will Gollop Peugeot 306 T16. From that first event, Andy subsequently purchased the car, arguably the most successful car in rallycross history, and went on to claim the 2011 MSA British Rallycross Vice-Champion crown.
Now, Andy and Ollie are to be reunited in the first appearance in South America of the new World RX series, which will pitch around 20 of the world’s greatest Supercar drivers head-to-head across four heats, two semi finals and the all-important final. For O’Donovan, a three-year absence from rallycross was brought to an end mid-way through 2014, where the four-time RX150 Champion bounced back with three Supercar wins from four British Rallycross rounds contested, and a podium finish in the fourth.
While acknowledging his outing in the highly acclaimed World RX will be tough, and the event in Argentina a particularly steep learning curve, Ollie is keen to ensure his season ends on a high in a country renowned for its passion for motorsport. Andy himself heads into the final round with five semi final places already under his belt from eight races contested, and is equally determined to round out the year with a place in the finals.
For Team Principal Andy Scott it is a team mate he is happy to have and said "I’m delighted to welcome Ollie to Albatec Racing for what promises to be a fantastic end to the season. World RX has been superb this year, IMG and the organisers of each round have put on a great show for the thousands of fans who turn out, and Argentina will be no exception. The country is widely acknowledged as being fanatical about two things; football and motorsport. I’m certain the organisers will pull out all the stops for the week-long festival, which culminates in the final round of World RX. Ollie is responsible for bringing me into Supercars, and now it's time to repay the favour! His ability behind the wheel is legendary, and his results this season since his return to racing has shown he has lost none of his flair – it will certainly be an interesting weekend and I’m very much looking forward to going head-to-head with him.”