Patrick O’Donovan will make his Extreme E debut at next weekend’s Hydro X Prix in Scotland, filling in for Jimmie Johnson at Legacy Motor Club.
The 19-year-old Briton has served as the series’ designated male reserve driver since the middle of last year, but will make his competition debut in the doubleheader event in Dumfries and Galloway.
“I am really excited to make my Extreme E debut for Legacy Motor Club and race the Odyssey 21 for the first time,” said the two-time British Rallycross champion and World Rallycross podium finisher. “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 Motor Club showed huge potential at the first event in Saudi Arabia and alongside Gray we will look to build on that at the Hydro X Prix. To race for Jimmie Johnson is an incredible feeling.”
O’Donovan will be the latest driver to share the Legacy Motor Club Extreme E entry with Gray Leadbetter, Andrew Ferraro/Motorsport Images
The NASCAR outfit joined the all-electric off-road series this season with Gray Leadbetter as its female driver, with a revolving cast taking the male spot. Six-time U.S. rally champions nd 2021 Nitrocross champion Travis Pastrana raced for the team in the first two rounds of the season in Saudi Arabia, while Johnson — who started his career in off-road racing before embarking on his legendary NASCAR career — will race in the final six rounds of the season, taking place in Sardinia (Sept. 14-15 and Sept. 21-22) and Phoenix (Nov. 23-24).
“Patrick has already shown to have huge potential in this style of racing and when we needed a seat to be filled at Legacy Motor Club he was the obvious candidate,” said Johnson. “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.”
Legacy Motor Club, with Leadbetter and Pastrana, scored a pair of sixth-place finishes at the Desert X Prix in February, setting the fastest “super sector” time during Race 2, a round in which Leadbetter enjoyed a tense battle with two-time DTM and 2016 World RX champion Mattias Ekstrom of NEOM McLaren.
