Patrick O'Donovan joins Extreme E as male championship driver
O’Donovan, 19 from London, UK, is the reigning British Rallycross Champion and an FIA RX2e race-winner, and will partner Tamara Molinaro for Rounds 5 and 6 in Italy where the British driver will get behind the wheel of the ODYSSEY 21 for the first time.
On becoming a Championship Driver for Extreme E in Sardinia, O’Donovan said: “It’s exciting to get the call up from Extreme E to be Championship Driver. It’s going to be something completely new to me, but I’ve seen how great the racing can be and I can’t wait to get in the car.
“The course in Sardinia will be a kind of terrain I haven’t experienced before, but that’s why I’m here – to learn and to give feedback where I can. I’m also looking forward to working with Tamara [Molinaro]. She has a lot of experience in Extreme E, and I know she’ll be a huge help as I get to grips with the car and push myself to the limit in this new discipline. It’s going to be awesome.”
After finishing fourth in the RX2e series in 2021 O’Donovan repeated that feat last term, securing wins in the championship for all-electric cars in Latvia and Belgium.
O’Donovan became the youngest-ever British Rallycross title-winner last year, aged just 18-years-old, winning the championship with a 50-point margin, and is currently leading the standings in 2023 after winning the opening two rounds.
The British rising star was also a victor out on course last weekend, securing his first-ever Euro RX1 victory in Holjes, Sweden.
Some of the Extreme E stars will not be unfamiliar to him, as O’Donovan has signed with Timmy and Kevin Hansen’s #YellowSquad junior rallycross outfit – which Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Catie Munnings will also race for in 2023.
O’Donovan was recognised as Motorsport UK’s Academy Young Driver of the Year in 2021.
James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer at Extreme E, said: “It is great to welcome Patrick into the paddock for the upcoming Island X Prix in Sardinia.
“Patrick is an extremely talented young driver, with plenty of pedigree from his wheel-to-wheel racing exploits already, and we look forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the ODYSSEY 21 as a Championship Driver alongside Tamara at the next round.”
Rounds 5 and 6 of Extreme E Season 3 will take place on 8-9 July.
