Twenty-year-old Patrick O’Donovan became a three-time champion in the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy at Pembrey Circuit with a dominant performance (October 5-6).

O’Donovan (Peugeot 208) knew entering the penultimate instalment of the 2024 5 Nations BRX season that a pair of victories, regardless of what his nearest rivals did, would put his points tally beyond the reach of anyone else for a third straight title, and the newly crowned European Rallycross Champion delivered, winning every session on track throughout both days of competition to secure the UK’s biggest rallycross prize in style.

With the Pembrey Circuit running its clockwise rallycross layout on Saturday, Irishman Ian Barrett had his best day of the season so far and qualified second, but was eliminated from the race after first corner contact from a fast-starting Julian Godfrey (Citroen DS3), for which the latter was later disqualified. Third-place starter Tristan Ovenden (Citroen DS3) also lost time behind the incident, allowing Mitsubishi Evo racer Steve Hill to climb to second on the opening lap, a position he would maintain to the finish in a return to the podium. Title protagonist John McCluskey finished third.

Ford Fiesta driver McCluskey was then O’Donovan’s closest competitor in round eight on Sunday, the circuit now running in the anti-clockwise direction. Torrential rain fell before the final, making conditions challenging, front-row starter McCluskey getting away with a slide off the circuit on the loose section early on to finish second, ahead of six-time title-winner Godfrey. Ovenden finished fourth on both days.

In the championship, McCluskey holds second ahead of the final double-header of the season at Lydden Hill (November 2-3), while Hill leads a multi-driver contest for third overall.

Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship

Benjamin Bartlett claimed pole position for round seven of the Motorsport UK Junior Rallycross Championship on Saturday and led the final throughout while under pressure from reigning title-winner and 2024 series leader Tyler Mcalpin to secure a second win of the season. Cayden Harris finished the final in third, following a close battle with Teddie MacPherson. On Sunday, the Junior racers were first to endure the worst of the conditions in the final races, and it was again Bartlett who led from the front, until a mistake on the loose surface section allowed Mcalpin to capitalise and drive to victory. MacPherson overcame clutch and gearbox issues to pass Phoebe Cake for the last place on the podium.

BMW MINI Rallycross Championship / Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship

The Motorsport UK Supernational Rallycross Championship and the BMW Mini Rallycross Championship raced together at Pembrey, and while sole Supernational runner Richard Moore (Mercedes SLK) took maximum points on Saturday, in the BMW Mini category the racing was nose-to-tail throughout. The three title-prognostics; Wesley Wickens, Leigh-Anne Sedgwick and Abbie McGuinness were inseparable all weekend, regardless of the conditions, Sedgwick and McGuinness taking a first and second place each over the weekend. McGuinness and Wickens are tied on points heading to the final rounds.

RX150 Rallycross Championship / Cross Car Rallycross Championship

Former Junior racer James Constantine (LifeLive TN5) claimed a maiden Cross Car victory in the amalgamated RX150 Rallycross Championship and Cross Car Rallycross Championship category on Saturday, having led on the opening lap and later getting involved in a four-car battle for the lead, from which he was victorious. Will Butler ultimately finished second in an intense scrap, with leading RX150 runner Stephen Jones in third. In the mixed conditions of Sunday, Jones was the standout performer through qualifying, then led on lap one of the final, but eventually finished second to final winner Max Weatherley (LifeLive TN11). However, second and top RX150 points was enough for Jones to claim the 2024 RX150 title. Constantine completed the mixed-grid podium.

Swift Sport Rallycross Championship

Will Ovenden claimed back-to-back victories in the Swift Sport Rallycross Championship in dominant fashion to extend his series lead to 29 points ahead of the final weekend at Lydden Hill. Title-contender Chris Cake twice claimed second-place points, but jumped the start in the Sunday final and had to take two joker laps as penalty. Daryl Chaffey returned to the single-make Swift series and twice finished on the podium, while Hannah Stewart and Amanda Price successful made their respective rallycross debuts in the class.

Retro Rallycross Championship

Super Retro Championship leader Charlie French (Ford Escort) led the Saturday final from the front to secure a fourth victory of the campaign, as four-time British Rallycross Champion and 2024 Super Retro title-contender Pat Doran (Ford Escort) drove to a composed second, while Lancia Stratos racer John Cross made up ground at the first corner when Allan Tapscott (Ford Escort) had a slow getaway, and Cross completed the podium. In the slippery conditions of Sunday, it was Triumph TR7 driver Nigel Davey that led the way in the final, chased by French, until the series leader made a mistake and went wide on the loose section, dropping him down the order. Davey claimed a maiden win, as Doran and Cross again completed the podium.

In the Retro Rallycross category for up to 1600cc machines, Toyota MR2 driver and reigning champion Tony Lynch claimed victory on Saturday having fended off substantial pressure from points’ leader Dan Swayland (Ford Escort). Simon Hart (Ford Escort) completed the podium. On Sunday, Lynch again led the final from the front, but in an amazing move, Swayland overtook around the outside to take the lead and drive to his first win of the season. Ian Biagi (Mini) finished third.

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