Patrick O'Donovan to make Extreme E debut with Legacy Motor Club at Hydro X Prix
After a year-long stint as Championship Driver in the series, 20-year-old O’Donovan will race alongside 19-year-old Gray Leadbetter for the American outfit to form Extreme E’s youngest driver pairing to date.
O’Donovan stands in for team co-owner and driver Jimmie Johnson, who will make his Extreme E bow at the upcoming double-header event in Sardinia, Italy.
Alongside his Extreme E exploits, O’Donovan already has proven pedigree in his fledgling off-road racing career as a two-time British rallycross champion. It is not just on the domestic stage, however, where O’Donovan has shown his talents. He is an FIA RX2e race-winner and scored a podium at the final round of the 2023 World Rallycross Championship in Hong Kong.
LEGACY M.C. made its Extreme E debut at the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia earlier this year with Leadbetter and Travis Pastrana behind the wheel. The American outfit is sixth in the overall standings and will look to move up the leaderboard at the Hydro X Prix.
Patrick O’Donovan, LEGACY M.C. driver, said: “I am really excited to make my Extreme E debut for LEGACY M.C. and race the ODYSSEY 21 for the first time. I feel like I know the car really well having been Championship Driver for quite some time, and hope to show what I’ve learned when we get back on track in Scotland.
“I’m really looking forward to mixing it with the best out on track. LEGACY M.C. showed huge potential at the first event in Saudi Arabia and alongside Gray [Leadbetter] we will look to build on that at the Hydro X Prix. To race for Jimmie Johnson is an incredible feeling.”
Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of LEGACY M.C., said: “Patrick has already shown to have huge potential in this style of racing and when we needed a seat to be filled at LEGACY M.C. he was the obvious candidate. He's young, hungry and has bags of race-winning credentials at such a young age.
“We’re aiming for a strong performance in Scotland and think we have the energy in the team with Patrick and Gray behind the wheel to do so. I am eager to make my series debut, but will have to wait a little longer to do so, and therefore will be watching Gray and Patrick from the sidelines giving it their all at the next event.”
