Jamaica’s trailblazing skilled racing driver, Fraser McConnell, acquired the Motorsport Athlete of the 12 months (male) award for the third consecutive yr on the RJR/Gleaner Sportsman and Sportswoman Awards 2023, on Friday.
Notably, McConnell additionally secured a nomination for the Sportsman of the 12 months award for the second time in three years, having been nominated beforehand in 2022. World Championships 400m gold medalist Antonio Watson received the Sportsman of the 12 months 2023, with Hansle Parchment, the 110m hurdles silver medalist incomes the primary runner-up spot.
McConnell’s twin nominations held specific significance as he was the only non-track and area athlete among the many male nominees, a testomony to his outstanding affect on the planet of motorsport.
Gratitude for the popularity
Expressing his gratitude for the popularity, McConnell said, “It’s a tremendous feeling to have the ability to characterize Jamaica on the worldwide stage doing what I really like, and being among the many greatest athletes within the nation as soon as once more is an enormous honor and an enormous motivation for me going ahead.”
He added, “Regardless of the judges’ resolution on award evening, I see this nomination as a terrific success and achievement, and I’ll stay centered, maintain my head down, and proceed to work arduous and fly the flag excessive.”
In 2023, McConnell made his debut within the Excessive E collection, reaching a powerful fourth-place end within the Championship finale along with his X44 Vida Carbon Racing group, owned by the famend Sir Lewis Hamilton. In December, the group secured a podium end within the remaining two rounds, finally claiming fourth place total in Chile.
Accomplishments
Moreover, McConnell’s accomplishments prolonged to the Nitro Cross collection in the US, the place he clinched victory in rounds one and 4 and secured a second-place end in spherical 5 in Oklahoma and Arizona, additional solidifying his standing as a rising star in motorsport.
The extremely aggressive 2023 Sportsman of the 12 months award class featured notable athletes akin to Hansle Parchment, Wayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle, Jaheel Hyde, Antonio Watson, and Fraser McConnell, vying for this prestigious honor.
