McConnell eyes super 2021
Published:Wednesday | December 30, 2020 | 12:12 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Following a season where he performed above expectations in the Supercar class, RallyCross driver Fraser McConnell says that he has every intention of continuing in the category for the 2021 season.
While the Coronavirus pandemic severely hampered his racing calendar for 2020, it presented the opportunity for the 2019 RallyCross champion to advance to the Supercar class, the sport’s highest category.
McConnell says that with the unexpected experience gained in his new surroundings, he believes that he is ready to challenge the top drivers in the world on a regular basis.
“That’s the plan, to stay in Supercar. It’s the highest level of competition and I feel like I am ready for it. There is no reason why I can’t perform at a high level consistently now,” McConnell told The Gleaner.
His schedule for next year is still not finalised, but McConnell says that his team is working towards being able to have the necessary sponsorship to remain in the category. However, he says that while any racing, at any level, that he can get for next year will be beneficial, he is determined to remain where he feels he belongs.
SUFFICIENT SPONSORSHIP
“We are still working on that. Nothing will be able to take place unless there is sufficient sponsorship. [So] that’s what we are working on right now,” McConnell said “Any racing is good racing, [but] I don’t plan to go down into the lower class. [It’s] all eyes forward [to] stay in Supercar and trying to do as best as I can in that class.”
While the local racing season grounded to a halt because of the pandemic, McConnell managed to participate in two events in Europe this year, which were organised by his Sweden-based racing team, Olsberg MSE. He made his Supercar debut in Sweden in July, which marked the return of motor sport on the continent, after four months of inactivity. He subsequently finished second overall in the Rally Nordic X Supercar Championship, behind his teammate Oliver Eriksson, who captured the title.
McConnell said that he is happy that he was able to benefit and test himself among the best, despite the current circumstances.
“COVID-19 eventually turned out to work in our favour, being able to make a jump to the Superclass. I just made the best out of that opportunity by applying myself and using everything that I have learnt in the previous classes of racing that I have done, to grow into the bigger class,” McConnell said. “I just grabbed the opportunity with both hands and made sure that I wasn’t going to waste any minute [of it]. The experience was invaluable, and it was a very successful season.”