Jamaican rallycross superstar Fraser McConnell is set to return to RallyX for the first time since 2021 in March 29-30’s visit to Circuito Internacional de Montalegre. McConnell will reunite with Olsbergs MSE to return to the series for the full Euro League season, driving the First Corner FC2 car as part of a booming Open 4WD entry list in the opening round.
“It’s very exciting to be back,” says McConnell. “When I started in RallyX Nordic, it was really my first time was getting my feet wet in the big Supercar category. I competed in there with the Erikssons and OMSE. So it feels like, going back to some real rallycross roots for me, which is very special.
“The Erikssons are like my Swedish family. I lived with them for six months during COVID and really got close with them. It’s a really nice environment to be in, and I can’t wait to go racing with them.”
In his previous stint with OMSE, McConnell was one of RallyX’s top drivers in Open 4WD in 2020 and 2021. He finished second in points in both seasons, breaking through for his first final victory at Nysum in 2021, before turning his attention to America.
“(OMSE) is the definition of live, breathe, eat rallycross—everything they do is geared towards making rallycross successful,” he continues. “Building cars, putting on races, driver development. So my hat’s off to them when it comes to the world of rallycross. And it is very exciting to be going back to where it started for me.”
After scoring multiple top-five finishes with OMSE in the final season of Supercar action in the States, McConnell switched to the FC1-X with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2022 and scored four victories over the past three years. After breaking out in that car, this will be McConnell’s first race session in an FC2—though he, like many others, spent plenty of time in the SuperCar Lites that formed the basis of the FC2.
“Pretty much every single rallycross event—minus three, which I competed in with a Hyundai—every single other rallycross event that I’ve competed in for three plus years, has been in an OMSE-built car,” McConnell explains. “It started with SuperCar Lites. Then we went to the Fiesta Mk7 and Mk8 Supercars, and then we went up to the FC1-X.
“(As for) the FC-2, I have not driven it yet. But to me, it’s a juiced up SuperCar Lites. It’s not the easiest car to drive—if you make a mistake, you definitely pay for it. But that’s what makes being consistently fast very rewarding. SuperCar Lites has helped me develop my craft, carrying momentum, sliding as little as possible, making as little mistakes as possible, and being in the same machine as everyone else makes the racing very exciting. You know, it’s a very responsive car as well. So if it’s anything like a SuperCar Lites, then it should be a very fun time.”
While McConnell hasn’t yet competed at Montalegre in the real world, he utilizes sim racing as part of his driver training, and has been able to take laps at the track in the virtual world. As a result, he’s well prepared for the unique challenges of the Portuguese circuit.
“The only thing I know from Montalegre is watching videos and playing the sims,” he admits. “I’ve never been there in person. I’ve never been to Portugal, period, so that will be a nice experience. And it does look like one of the more iconic rallycross tracks. To be able to go there and get on those big curbs and carry huge speed into these long, sweeping corners, that’s going to be fun.”
Tickets for RallyX of Portugal, coming to Circuito Internacional de Montalegre on March 29-30, are on sale now at https://www.rallyx.se/tickets/.