McConnell’s Team X44 finishes fourth overall in Extreme E Championship

By Sports Desk December 05, 2023
Fraser McConnell (right) and Team X44 teammate Cristina Gutierrez. 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.

 

 

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    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.  

     

  • Fraser McConnell secures second in thrilling Nitrocross final at Richmond Raceway Fraser McConnell secures second in thrilling Nitrocross final at Richmond Raceway

     

    Jamaica’s Fraser McConnell delivered a stellar performance, finishing second in the final of the second round of the Nitrocross season at Richmond Raceway on Sunday. Despite a half-spin on the opening lap that cost him the lead, McConnell fought hard throughout the six-lap race, coming within just 0.759 seconds of the eventual winner, Sweden’s Oliver Eriksson.

     Eriksson, driving for Olsbergs MSE, capitalized on McConnell’s early mishap to snatch the lead, which he held for the remainder of the race. However, McConnell, piloting his DRR Dodge vehicle for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing + Team Frazzz, kept the pressure on the Swedish driver, reducing the gap to just 0.302 seconds by lap four. Both drivers took their joker laps on the final lap, but Eriksson maintained his lead to claim victory.

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    Last season, McConnell made waves in the Nitrocross circuit, capturing multiple wins and securing a second-place finish, just behind champion Robin Larsson. With victories in Phoenix and Las Vegas and a runner-up spot in Round Six, McConnell is determined to build on his previous success.

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    "This new partnership with Dodge is a huge boost for the team, and I can't wait to hit the track. Richmond is a brand new venue, which makes it an exciting challenge for everyone. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got, and with the support of Dodge, we’re ready to take on the world."

    Fans can look forward to a thrilling Nitrocross season, with 10 rounds spanning five venues, including stops in Richmond, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Miami, and Las Vegas, running from September 7 through March 2. Fraser McConnell and his team, now powered by Dodge, are poised to deliver an unforgettable season filled with high-speed, adrenaline-fueled action.

    Action is live on Rumble at 3:00pm Jamaica time.

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