Patrick O’Brien relishing gravel surface challenge at Rally Italia Sardegna

'There are embedded rocks everywhere, nothing like I’ve ever seen before.'

ITALIAN JOB: Omagh driver Patrick O'Brien makes his WRC gravel debut on this weekend's Rally Italia Sardegna. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Irish Forest Rally champion Omagh’s Patrick O’Brien is relishing his gravel surface WRC debut on this weekend’s Rally Italia Sardegna. He is one of four Motorsport Ireland Academy drivers on the 19-stage sixth round of the series. 

O’Brien, co-driven by his brother Stephen, along with Josh McErlean/John Rowan will compete in Hyundai i20 N Rally2 cars in the WRC2 category and William Creighton/Liam Regan and Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan will contest the Junior WRC category where all the contestants will debut M-Sport Poland prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars.