At 18 years old, Fraser McConnell has already racked up an amazing résumé in his young motorsports career, having been crowned the 2016 Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC) Dover series champion. This latest accolade makes him the club’s youngest back-to-back winner, having also successfully captured the title in 2015.

“It’s still a big deal to win the drivers’ championship. I just want to thank KIG, NG Racing, and Tru-Juice, as without them it wouldn’t have been possible,” McConnell told Jamaica Observer’s Auto.

For him, 2016 proved a very challenging year as he balanced school overseas with his racing career here in Jamaica. His rivals weren’t sitting still either, as they brought the championship battle to an exciting finale at the very last race meet.

“I had less seat time this year. I’d show up to race and just leave right after,” he added.

For 2017 his plans are bigger. After getting plenty of experience with his Subaru Impreza WRX STI, with its four-wheel drive and turbocharged power in Bracket 29, the class he competes in, he will move into Modified Production Class 2 (MP2) in a Honda Civic. Not only will this be a significant switch for him, due to the car’s front-wheel drive and the freer rules in MP2, but he will reignite a childhood rivalry from his karting days with William Myers when the season starts in earnest on April 17 at Dover Raceway, St Ann.

“I’m going to have to apply the same theory as I did with the Subaru. The Civic is going to be a high-powered, front-wheel drive car, but it’s about putting it all together on the track from the first lap,” McConnell said.

He continues to hope that he can transition to a drive overseas as well.

“I’m looking towards Rallycross in the US,” he said.

His advice for younger, up-and-coming drivers is to simply take any chance they get to drive, as opportunities are few and far between.

“Just get out there and drive.”