The 19-year-old is part of Hansen Motorsport’s junior team, having driven a #YellowSquad-supported Peugeot 208 WRX to third place in his first full season in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s top Euro RX1 tier this year – scoring a maiden victory in Sweden and claiming two further podium finishes in Hungary and Germany.

O’Donovan, who secured back-to-back British Rallycross Championship titles last weekend, also has experience of the all-electric ZEROID X1 that will be raced at the World RX of China, having contested the RX2e series in 2021 and ‘22.

“It will be a childhood dream come true for me to make my World RX debut, and even better to be doing so in a car that I know,” says O’Donovan.

“I’m extremely excited to see how my pace fares against some of the best rallycross drivers in the world, and to be working so closely with the Hansen Motorsport team.

“It’s also super-cool to be part of the first-ever World Rallycross inner-city event, especially in a venue like Hong Kong. I can’t wait!”

“This is the first-time a #YellowSquad driver has stepped up to the World Championship, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for Patrick to be side-by-side with Timmy and Kevin in exactly the same vehicle,” says Team Principal Kenneth Hansen.

“It will be interesting for us to run three cars in the top category in Hong Kong, and we’re really looking forward to that.

“It’s a new circuit there, which means the opportunities are equal in terms of track knowledge, and I think we can benefit more from running three cars than just two.

“It will be great to work with a talented, motivated young driver like Patrick, with whom we have already formed a relationship this year.”