McConnell revels in RallyX Nordic win
Published:Sunday | May 2, 2021 | 4:21 PMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter -
After finishing last season with his first podium appearance in the Supercar class, RallyCross driver Fraser McConnell began the 2021 campaign on a successful note, winning his first Supercar event of his career at the RallyX Nordic series at the Nysumbanen race track in Denmark on Saturday.
McConnell, who started in fifth place, defeated three-time World Rally Cross champion Johan Kristoffersson in a time of 3:12:280 minutes for his maiden win on the same track where he placed second last year in his debut season at the elite level.
Sondre Evjen finished third in a time of 3:17:527 minutes.
McConnell, 21, relished the victory and praised the work of his team, Olsberg MSE for him being able to maintain his poise during the race.
"This is unreal," he said after the race. "The quality of these drivers is incredible but Olsmerg MSE is on a different level.
"We never give up and whilst our pace was up and down all day, I gave it everything I had. I'm racing with the best team in the world and I'm racing for the best country in the world."
McConnell placed third in his semi-final to qualify for the six-man final and despite starting next to last, McConnell said that he knew that there would be an opportunity to take advantage and leaned on the counsel of team Chief Executive Officer Andréas Eriksson.
"I was telling myself on the line, 'Don't give up'," McConnell said. "'Fifth place, you can do it. It's rallycross, anything can happen.'
"And I just kept it neat and knew that there was going to be a little drama in the first corner and just like Andréas told me 'Take advantage of their mistakes,' and that is exactly what I did.
"I'm sure mom is crying and dad is ecstatic and the rest of the people in the country who have supported me, I'm so proud to represent them and do what I do."
Prime Minister Andrew Holness took to social media to congratulate McConnell on his achievement.
"We are beyond proud of you, Fraser," Holness said on Instagram on Sunday. "Continue to make Jamaica proud on the world stage."
McConnell is third place in the championship with 47 points, nine points adrift of Kristoffersson, who has 56 points and the overall lead.