Mark O’Donnell, Arrive & Drive Manager HERO - ERA

Born Shepton Mallett UK 07.10.26 (56)

Mark is the most experienced and long-standing employee of HERO-ERA, he manages and looks after 15 Arrive & Drive cars and up to another 20 vehicles from the company fleet.

This stalwart of the automotive business started with HERO Events in Sept 2011 and is now in his 15th year with the company, he is a veteran of over 100 rallies including the gruelling super endurance Peking to Paris Motor Challenge in 2024. After major work and much diligence, Mark is proud of the way the platform now works.

Mark; “On the Peking to Paris in 2024, there were six entries who started out with HERO-ERA in our A&D cars before going on to buy their own rally cars to compete regularly. That is great result for us as many start out wanting to see what the sport is all about, but then get hooked, and end up competing in many of our events.

“At the same time our Arrive Drive cars have achieved top results across the board. For example, on that same Peking to Paris Motor Challenge in 2024, our Porsche 911 achieved a superb fourth overall and the class win in the hands of Martin Bellvisi and Andy Lane.  The car never missed a beat as the rally took competitors halfway around the world over some of the most difficult terrain imaginable, oh sorry I forgot, it had one puncture on route!”

As the longest standing HERO-ERA employee, everyone knows Mark in the company and soif someone new doesn’t know something, they will come and ask him!

Unsurprisingly, Mark has his favourite cars on the Arrive & Drive fleet, although as he says, it is a difficult choice. “It is very difficult, it’s like choosing your favourite family member, but in no particular order, the 1970 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750, then the1968 Jaguar E Type Coupe 4.2 and 1970 Porsche 911 2.2S. However, if I were to choose the best car for you to make a start in historic rallying, it would be the MGB Coupe/Roadster. It is a relatively cheap investment, easy and so much fun to drive with its front engine and rear wheel drive, but at the same time it is comfortable and less expensive on parts. And by the way, we just happen to have a beautifully prepared MGB on the A & D fleet!

Before HERO-ERA, Mark was in the Retail Automotive sector, performing a variety of jobs from Used Car Co-Ordinator to Sales via Admin and Service Advisor.

Like many of the professionals inside the company, Mark also had a love affair with cars from an early age. In his case, since his father would sit him on his lap to drive cars around a field. Even at an early age, he would know the sound of his father’s car arriving home,quickly identifying the sound whether it was the BMW 3.0 or Ford Capri, depending in what his dad was driving that week. Mark also enjoyed a serious link to rallying as his Godfather was the late, great Tony Pond. Mark’s father would keep the youngster up to speed with all the goings on in motorsport as he used to buy Motoring News every week. Once he got his turn, Mark would read it religiously.

Apart from his interest in all types of cars, Mark is an avid motorcycle rider and enjoys most sports, particularly football and still plays every week where his teammates describe his style as ‘taking no prisoners.’ He also enjoys watching rugby but says, “I don’t really understand all the technical aspects, certainly not as much as football, but I love rugby all the same. Irecently took up Golf again but find it both the most rewarding yet frustrating game all at the same time. You can hit a great shot one minute then the next is absolutely dire!”

Mark enjoys watching sport at a top level from World Cup Rugby, Football and Cricket topped only by the Olympics, but he is at his happiest amongst his cars, particularly his beloved Arrive & Drive fleet!