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Sport

Michael Igoe wins Brands Hatch Winter Stages as Patrick O’Donovan hit with five-minute penalty

By: Dan Wright dwright@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 08:11, 23 January 2024

Updated: 11:15, 23 January 2024

Former sportscar racer Michael Igoe won the Brands Hatch Winter Stages on Saturday - a year after making his rally debut at the same event.

The Citroen C3 Rally2 campaigner, co-driven by Will Atkins, led the event from start to finish on only his second outing in the 2019-built car.

Michael Igoe and Will Atkins round Druids on a frosty first stage in the Brands Hatch Winter Stages. Picture: Vic Wright

The Knutsford-based driver set the pace on a frosty first stage and produced a controlled drive in the afternoon to beat John Griffiths/Emma Morrison (Ford Fiesta R5) by 41 seconds.

Igoe was helped by a mistake from closest challenger Patrick O'Donovan on stage five when the double British Rallycross champion picked up a five-minute penalty for striking a chicane in the pitlane.

The Hyundai i20 R5 pilot, co-driven by Jack Morton, was contesting only his second-ever rally and was on the pace throughout - despite selecting the wrong tyres in the early part of the event.

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The 19-year-old eventually finished 12th overall, with the penalty helping his father Ollie, the 2007 British Rallycross champion, take third with Ashleigh Morris in his Hyundai i20 R5.

Igoe, who had enjoyed success in a Lamborghini Huracan in British GT, first used the Citroen at Donington Park in December, having previously handled a Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Patrick O’Donovan and Jack Morton were on the pace in their Hyundai i20, but a five-minute penalty dropped them down the order. Picture: Vic Wright

"Just 12 months ago I was at this event doing my first stage and I didn't even know what time control really was," he said.

"I had only just done my licence a month before so it's good to be here now fighting for wins.

“I’m really enjoying it, Will’s done a cracking job, and the team’s done a great job with the car.”

O'Donovan senior said his son "will learn" from his mistake, which damaged the front-left corner of his Hyundai.

“I’m very disappointed for Patrick – I would much rather he was in third instead of me as he is up and coming,” he said.

The event attracted 77 competitors, including a number of Ford Escort Mk2s. Picture: Vic Wright

“There should be a penalty for hitting the chicane, but five minutes is not realistic – I don’t know what the upside is of a five-minute penalty.

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“I think it should be 20/30 seconds because you would still be in the fight for the win with two stages to go.

"But his pace is still there and I enjoyed my last couple of stages when we had no delays and got back on the pace again.”

Behind the leading runners, Faversham's Richard Weatherley produced a strong performance to finish ninth overall in his two-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta Rally4, surviving a scare on the final stage when his bonnet flipped up.

Graham Hill Bend proved tricky on a frosty first stage; here, Ollie O’Donovan and Ashleigh Morris chase Darrell Taylor and Steve McNulty. Picture: Vic Wright
Michael Igoe made his rally debut at the Brands Hatch Winter Stages in January 2023, handling a Ford Fiesta Rally2

The BMCRC Club Bike Championships will start the circuit racing season at Brands Hatch on March 16-17.

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