Fraser McConnell (right) and Team X44 teammate Cristina Gutierrez.
Fraser McConnell’s team X44 Vida Carbon Racing finished fourth overall as this season’s Extreme E championship ended with the final two rounds taking place at the Copper X Prix in Antofagasta, Chile on Saturday and Sunday.
“I can’t put into words how much this year with team X44 has meant to me. First of all, thank you to Lewis Hamilton for allowing me this opportunity to race amongst some of the best and most experienced drivers and teams in the world!” McConnell said in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Saturday’s round nine saw McConnell and his teammate Cristina Gutierrez of Spain advance to the final as qualifying heat winners before finishing third in the final, more than three seconds behind winners Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinski and Johan Kristoffersson of Rosberg X Racing and runners up Laia Sanz and Mattias Ekstrom of Acciona I Sainz XE Team.
Sunday’s tenth and final round also saw X44 Vida Carbon Racing also securing a podium finish in third despite failing to finish the final which was won by Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen of Veloce Racing with Ahlin-Kottulinski and Kristoffersson finishing second.
Overall, McConnell’s team finished with 121 points to place fourth on the final Extreme E Championship season three table.
Rosberg X Racing finished with 182 points for their second Extreme E title while Acciona I Sainz XE Team (171 points) and Veloce Racing (155 points) rounded out the top three.
In addition to last weekend, team X44 also secured podium finishes at the Hydro Prix in Scotland in May, the Island Prix in Italy in September
“This year definitely had its ups and downs but I can say for certainty that the entire team were always giving our absolute everything to get the car on top. We were good enough to get it on top a couple times along with some podium finishes but the cool part was that even when it didn’t go to plan, everyone was still able to keep their spirits up and make the most of every situation that presented itself with a smile on their face,” he said.
“For everyone back home, thank you for always supporting me through this journey! Being able to fly the Jamaican flag is something that I will always be proud to represent and that will never change,” McConnell concluded.
The 25-year-old was recently chosen as a nominee for the RJR Gleaner Sports Foundation National Sportsman of the Year award.
Dorival Junior expects Brazil to qualify for 2026 World Cup
Dorival Junior expects to see Brazil qualify for the 2026 World Cup following their 2-1 victory over Chile, despite inconsistent form so far.
The Selecao had lost four of their previous five qualifiers before winning this one, which had left them in fifth in the CONMEBOL table but perilously close to dropping out of the top eight.
The three points they earned in Chile saw them move up fourth, but there is still just a three-point gap between themselves and eighth-placed Paraguay, who beat Brazil 1-0 in the previous international break.
Given their recent form, a win in Chile was a welcome relief for Dorival despite a lacklustre performance.
"We are moving step-by-step, with a lot to fix, but little by little finding the way," Dorival said after the game.
"I'm happy to see the team's maturity, even though they're very young. We had balance and tranquility."
Should Brazil fail to qualify for the World Cup, it be the first time in history that they would have been absent from the competition.
Given that it would come after it has been expanded from 32 to 48 teams, giving CONMEBOL a further two qualification spots, would only add to the embarrassment.
But Dorival wanted to make it clear that he has faced selection issues over the course of this campaign.
Of the starters in Chile, only four players - Danilo, Marquinhos, Lucas Paqueta and Raphinha - started in the 2022 World Cup, while Alisson, Eder Militao and Vinicius Junior were all injured.
"A [team] renewal is not simple," Dorival said.
"We don't have the structure that was set up for the previous World Cup and this ends up making the games even more difficult due to the balance between the youth of these boys and the experience of others that are there.
"We only had four players that finished the last match of the World Cup and that has considerable weight."
Despite the difficulties that both he and the team have faced, Dorival is of the belief that they will make it to the United States, Canada and Mexico in two years.
"We will arrive with a strong team in two years, but we will face some difficulties," he said.
Brazil defender Marquinhos came down on his coach's side when asked to give his thoughts after the match.
"Seeking changes is beside the point," he said. "I'm happy with Dorival, with the work he's been doing."
Dorival has been in the job for less than a year, having only been appointed as Brazil's head coach in January, though the Selecao also failed to impress at this year's Copa America.
The need for patience was something that Marquinhos was quick to point out.
"It's not easy, you have to give him time to understand the group he has in hand and use the pieces," he added.
"We showed that we have quality, many good players. We know the coach's ability, what a great professional and person he is.
"We are fully focused on seeking to improve and grow as a group and team."
Chile 1-2 Brazil: Luiz Henrique late show salvages victory
Brazil fought back from a goal down to score an 89th-minute winner that completed a 2-1 comeback win over Chile.
The hosts went ahead in the second minute of Thursday's World Cup qualifier in Santiago when a looping header from Eduardo Vargas went past Ederson in goal, although it was an effort that should arguably have been saved.
While Chile had chances to extend their lead and had claims for a penalty in the first half, Brazil equalised in stoppage time through a close-range header from Igor Jesus.
The Selecao controlled much of the second half as they went in search of a winner, and they were able to find it a minute from time. Botafogo winger Luiz Henrique cut in from the right and bent a shot past the goalkeeper to earn his country three points.
It is a victory that moves Brazil up a place to fourth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, while Chile remain second-bottom, seven points behind an automatic qualification spot.
That they were able to get the result without some key players - Alisson, Eder Militao and Vinicius Junior are all injured - will have pleased coach Dorival Junior, for whom the result will ease some of the pressure.
Data debrief: Plenty to improve for Brazil
Prior to their victory in Chile, Brazil had been on a run of four defeats in five matches in World Cup qualifying.
This result leaves them three points ahead of eighth-placed Paraguay, who occupy the final elimination slot and beat Brazil 1-0 in the previous matchday.
Although Brazil found a way to win, this was the sixth qualifier in eight that they registered three shots on target or fewer.
Given that they have also conceded the second-most goals (nine) within the top eight, there is clearly still work to do from Dorival to get them performing at a higher level.
McConnell confident heading into rounds three and four of Nitrocross Championship in Utah
Jamaican racing sensation Fraser McConnell is gearing up for an intense weekend of action as he heads into Rounds three and four of the Nitrocross championship on October 5 & 6 in Utah.
Following a stellar performance at the season’s opening rounds in Richmond, Virginia, McConnell holds second place in the overall standings, just 11 points behind leader Kevin Eriksson.
McConnell’s dominant showing at Richmond Raceway on September 7 & 8 saw him secure a third-place finish in Round 1, followed by a thrilling battle for first in Round 2.
After clinching the top qualifier spot and winning his semi-final, McConnell started the Round 2 final in pole position. Despite taking an early lead, a dramatic half-spin pushed him off his racing line, allowing Eriksson to take the win. McConnell finished second ahead of Viktor Vranckx.
Looking ahead to the Utah rounds, McConnell remains optimistic about his chances.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend, going back to Utah, the birthplace of Nitrocross,” he shared.
“It all started there with the Nitro World Games in 2018 and 2019, so it's a very special place for everyone involved.”
McConnell also highlighted the challenge of the upcoming track. “Salt Lake is one of the craziest tracks on the calendar, with the biggest gap jump and a lot of demanding corners. It requires high speed from us drivers. I'll just go out there and hit my marks as usual, trying to extract as much as I can from the car while proudly repping Jamaica.”
With back-to-back podium finishes in Rounds 1 and 2, McConnell is confident about continuing his strong run.
“We’re second in the championship with 107 points, and I’m looking forward to continuing that streak this weekend,” he said.
McConnell currently leads defending champion Robin Larsson by four points and is poised to close the gap further in his pursuit of overtaking Eriksson.
McConnell's season is sponsored by JustBet, Proven, Tru Shake, Rainforest, and the Jamaica Tourist Board.
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