McConnell ready to ‘send it in Hell’

Fraser McConnell is no stranger to the FIA World Rallycross Championship scene, with his show-stopping debut in the RX2 Series in Catalunya in 2019 the stuff of legend in the sport – and he similarly excelled in a brace of outings in the inaugural campaign of RX2e last year. Next month, he is poised to make his return, this time in Euro RX1 in Norway – and in characteristic crowd-pleasing style, he has promised to ‘send it in Hell’.

After shining in ARX2 in North America, McConnell truly announced himself to the international rallycross community – not to mention Olsbergs MSE team-mate Jesse Kallio – when he drove right the way around the outside of the Finn for second place on the last lap of the RX2 final at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya three years ago, going on to finish fourth in the championship.

The Jamaican stepped up to Supercar level in 2020, securing the runner-up spoils in the overall RallyX Nordic standings before racing to his breakthrough victory in the series’ headlining class the following year.

He simultaneously got his first taste of electric technology in the nascent FIA RX2e Championship, fighting immediately at the front of the field on his maiden appearance in Catalunya before pushing Kallio right the way to the chequered flag en route to second place at Höljes.

Just under 12 months on, McConnell will rejoin the World Championship package with Mikko Ikonen’s Betomik Racing outfit, to pilot a Hyundai i20 in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s Euro RX1 category. To say he is fired-up would be a distinct understatement.

“Euro RX is something I have been watching for a very long time,” revealed the 23-year-old, “so to now have the opportunity to compete in an event is very special. This year’s field looks very tough, but no matter the competition, I always prepare to be as fast and as good as I can and I can’t wait to go out there with Jamaican flair as usual and show the world what we can do. 

“The goal for every weekend is the same – to give everything I can to stand on the top step of the podium at the end of the weekend and represent my country and sponsors to the fullest. 

“I had the pleasure of driving in Hell in RX2 in 2019, but it will for sure be something special in a Supercar. It’s a proper rallycross rollercoaster of a track which rewards you for pushing and committing that extra bit. That’s super fun as a driver, and the Betomik Racing Hyundai i20 is an absolute joy to drive – so I’m looking forward to sending it in Hell!”

“Like me, the whole team is fully motivated and really pleased to work with Fraser and all the people behind him, and we are expecting an action-packed trip to Hell,” added Ikonen, a successful former competitor himself.

“Fraser is one of the most talented young superstars in rallycross; there is absolutely no doubt about his driving skills and pace, but also we all are eager to get even more out of the whole package.

“My job is to give him as truthful an outside view of the car as I can, while processing all the data to find the optimal set-up and racing tactics to gain the best result possible. I think our co-operation works really well and he is really easy and fun to work with, so we will go to Hell with high hopes and the clear target of challenging at the very top in Euro RX1.”