Irishman Ollie O’Donovan finished fourth at the penultimate round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship at Barcelona in Spain, making it to the final for the second event in succession and just missing what would have been his maiden podium in international rallycross.

The Team RX Racing driver had mixed results in the four heat races, but was comfortably inside the Euro RX semi-finals after the first three qualifying races. O’Donovan then suffered from a pair of broken drive shafts in the fourth heat and just made it into the semi-finals in 12^th position.

In the semi-final, driving his Ford Fiesta Supercar, O’Donovan made another of his now familiar good starts from the back of the grid and was up to third position by the first gravel section, only to hit a wall and damage a wheel, initially ruling him out of a place in the final. However, two drivers ahead were given penalties, and as reserve, O’Donovan made it into the final for the second time in two events.

“We were a bit up and down in the heats. On lap two in heat four we broke one driveshaft when we had a very comfortable lead, then the second shaft let go and the car was basically undriveable. We were really lucky to finish and just get into the semis at all. If the shaft hadn’t gone we could have been comfortably in the middle of the grid in the semis, but there you go,” said O’Donovan. “It was looking good in the semi. I did get pushed out into the gravel trap after the start and then I clipped a wall and broke a rim. We were lucky to finish, happy with that. We went back to the paddock and I was about to watch the finals, but we found out we had qualified just in time.”

With another good start in the final, Yokohama-backed O’Donovan climbed to a podium position on the first lap, but again broke a wheel rim. He was however able to go one place better than at the previous round in Norway, with a fourth place finish and remains eighth overall in the championship standings. “I couldn’t believe we got up into the final. At the first corner I pushed on around the outside and then dropped into the inside. By the time we got to the gravel I was in third; that was great. I slipped wide lost a bit of time, but I genuinely thought we could get onto the podium. Then, on lap four, I went wide and hit the same bloody wall and broke another rim. I lost two or three seconds there, which was enough to miss the podium. But, we’re very, very happy with where we finished, and I must say thanks to the boys and Tony Bardy as always for producing such a good car.”

O’Donovan is targeting a podium finish at the final round of the Euro RX championship in Italy next month, held one week after the final round of the MSA British Rallycross Championship in association with the Shannon Group at Croft. “We’re going to go all out for a podium in Italy now, that would be a nice way to end the year, but first, we have the final round of the British Championship at Croft and the Grand Prix. I’m really looking forward to that.”

Spain Euro RX Result

1 Ole-Christian Veiby - VW Polo (#52)

2 Alexander Hvaal – Citroen DS3 (#28)

3 Joni-Pekka Rajala - Saab 93 (#60)

4 Ollie O’Donovan - Ford Fiesta (#2)

5 Jerome Grosset-Janin - Peugeot 208 (#74)

6 Tommy Rustad - Volkswagen Polo (#24)

European Championship after round 4/5:

1 Tommy Rustad - Volkswagen Polo - 105

2 Jerome Grosset-Janin - Peugeot 208 - 99

3 Joni-Pekka Rajala - Saab 93 - 74

4 Ole-Christian Veiby - Volkswagen Polo - 67

5 Jean-Baptiste Dubourg - Citroen C4 - 53

6 Frode Hole – Hyundai i20 – 45

7 Fabien Pailler – Peugeot 208 - 43

8 Ollie O’Donovan – Ford Fiesta - 39

9 Jonathan Pailler – Peugeot 208 – 38

10 Peter Hedstrom – Ford Fiesta - 27

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