Jamaican motor sport enjoys great international year but struggles at home
Published:Wednesday | January 5, 2022 | 12:05 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
WHILE COMPETITIONS locally for motor sport have been at a premium in 2021, rallycross driver Fraser McConnell and young driver Alex Powell were in the spotlight for their respective seasons. Internationally, Formula One had an exciting 2021 campaign that saw one of the most intense championship battles in years that ended in controversial circumstances.
The Jamaica Karting Association was the only local association to hold events in 2021 after getting approval from the Ministry of Health in May to stage events in June. The approval brought to a close a long approval process that started in 2020, despite the moratorium issued by the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club.
The Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC), on the other hand, has been stagnant because of the lack of approval from the Government for events in 2021. However, according to JRDC chairman Junior Barnes, they are hoping that events at Dover Raceway could return this year, should their COVID-19 protocols be approved by the Government.
“Our paperwork is in to the various government ministries and we are awaiting approval. And once we are given the go-head, then our next meeting will be on February 27, 2022,” Barnes said in a December 27, 2021 interview with The Gleaner.
Meanwhile, Jamaican drivers have been making their international mark this season in the absence of local competition. Coming off a 2020 season in which he made his Supercar debut, McConnell’s 2021 campaign was highlighted with his first Supercar win in the RallyXNordic series in May, defeating three-time FIA Champion Johan Kristoffersson in the process.
His campaign would see him finish second overall in the championship standings and make his debut in the Rally2E electric car series and the Nitro Rallycross Championship circuit in the United States. His exploits earned him nominations for the RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation Male Athlete of the Year award, as well the People’s Choice Performance of the Year award. McConnell says he is anticipating a much better showing this year given the success in his driving and the growth of his brand.
“The Team Frazz family is growing bigger and bigger every day. People see what I’m doing on social media, they see the races on TV and they like my personality and the performances as well. Every year is a better year and definitely, next year (2022) will be even better,” McConnell had said.
Meanwhile, Powell, 14, enjoyed strong results in his 2021 campaign, placing third in the WSK Super Master Series, second in the WSK European championship and fifth in the FIA European Karting Championship Junior Division.
On the international scene, the 2021 Formula One season was defined by the closest drivers’ championship battle in recent seasons between seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
While Verstappen held a sizable lead going into the latter stages of the season, Hamilton managed consecutive wins in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to leave both men equal on points heading into the championship decision race in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen, who started the race in pole position, overtook Hamilton on the final lap and held him off to win his first world title. However, the win was marred with controversy. After a safety car was brought out with seven laps to go, race director Michael Masi allowed five cars between Hamilton (who was leading) and Verstappen to un-lap themselves before restarting the race. Mercedes lodged two protests which were dismissed by the FIA. Mercedes did manage to retain the constructor’s championship for the eighth consecutive season.