McConnell grateful to be named Tru-Shake ambassador
Published:Friday | December 10, 2021 | 12:09 AM
National rallycross driver Fraser McConnell says that he is grateful for the value seen in him as he became Tru-Shake’s newest brand ambassador.
McConnell becomes the latest athlete to join the nutrition drink brand in this role after Olympic 100m hurdles bronze medallist Megan Tapper became their brand ambassador in October. Although Tru-Shake has been a sponsor of McConnell’s exploits in previous years, he says that the latest partnership is a recognition of the faith and value placed in him and his abilities.
“I have always been representing them since the first time they came on the car,” McConnell told The Gleaner. “It’s super cool to promote the brand as much as possible because it has a lot of potential. Glad that they see the potential in me and other athletes like Megan.
“I’m looking forward to even more stuff like this in the future. To feel the support that they give you, it’s more than just the fundraising. They see the value in me being able to represent Tru-Shake from my point of view as an athlete.”
McConnell is coming off a 2021 season in which he finished second overall in the Rally Nordic X championship standings, made his debut in the Rally2E electric car series this summer, and the recently concluded Nitro Rallycross Championship series in the United States. While he placed ninth overall in the standings, McConnell said that the Nitro series specifically provided a platform where the crowds resonated with him not only for his driving talent but Jamaican motorsports as a whole.
“Everybody wanted to be a part of Jamaica and Team Frazz,” he said. “They see how cool it is, they know it’s different and they also know that we are there to compete at the highest level. We were able to give out these Jamaica bandana flags, and everywhere you looked, at every single event, it shined through the crowd and they are able to relate that to me.
“It has just gotten a lot of exposure and seeing a lot of new eyes that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The TV package was the most robust that I had ever been a part of through my whole racing career. They reached eyes all over the world.”
His 2021 season earned him a nomination for the RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation National Sportsman of the Year award, and the People’s Choice Performance of the Year award for his maiden RallyXNordic series supercar win in Denmark last May. McConnell said that the nomination was rewarding not only for himself, but for non-traditional sports in the island.
“It’s an incredible achievement for myself,” he said. “I’m so happy that the judges have seen the value of something other than track and field and the classic sports Jamaicans normal compete in. For them to see what I’m doing on the world stage in rallycross is very fulfilling.”
McConnell will be up against Olympic 110m hurdles champion Hansle Parchment, Olympic 110m hurdles bronze medallist Ronald Levy, and West Indies cricketer Nkrumah Bonner.