With three podium finishes already under his belt this season in the RallyX series, Fraser McConnell narrowly missed out on a Top 3 result in both the Open 4WD and FC2 categories during the final day of racing at Valkenswaard. Still, that didn’t dampen the Jamaican driver’s enthusiasm as he now turns his focus toward the upcoming round in Riga.

Back in Europe after several seasons spent racing in the United States, McConnell wasted no time in reminding everyone what he’s capable of on this side of the Atlantic.

Ranked fourth overall in qualifying points across the RallyX field, McConnell has steadily adapted to the nuances of the FC2—a category he had never driven prior to the Montalegre round.

“We didn’t manage to get on the podium on the final day at Valkenswaard, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad day by any means,” McConnell pointed out.

“We showed we had great pace and the car felt amazing. FC2 is seriously fun to drive, the feeling behind the wheel is just incredible. Everyone was pushing their limits today, and well… sometimes I pushed a bit too far! I made a mistake in the FC2 final trying to go for the win, but I overdid it and ended up missing out on a podium that was clearly within reach.”

Humble and pragmatic, the Jamaican continues to view this 2025 season as a valuable learning experience in his FC2 development.

“Every time I get in the car, it’s another chance to improve. I learn with every session, but I know plenty of other drivers are in the same boat, so there are no excuses on that front. I just need to stay more focused next time and avoid the kind of mistake I made in the final.”

Having competed in FC2 only twice so far, McConnell is well aware he still has room to grow.

“This was only my second race in FC2—the first was in Portugal—and honestly, I felt a lot better this weekend. With four races under my belt now—two full weekends—I think I’ll feel even more comfortable when we get to Riga. I’m really hoping to deliver some strong results there.”