McConnell set for action in BCIC Rally Barbados

KINGSTON:

Jamaica’s most successful international motorsport driver, Fraser McConnell, begins his Barbados rally campaign this weekend as he prepares for his long-awaited debut in BCIC Rally Barbados (RB26) from May 29–31.

McConnell and co-driver Justin Morin will first take to the roads this weekend in preparation for the region’s premier rally event. The duo is entered in tomorrow’s Vaucluse Raceway Motorsports Club Double-Header Sprint as well as the Motoring Club Barbados Inc Spring Blaze on Sunday. This will provide valuable seat time, allowing the team to properly test the car on island road surfaces while continuing to build chemistry with the co-driver and service crew.

Representing Team Frazzz, McConnell will pilot a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, with Morin alongside him for the three-day rally.

With a striking livery based on the black, green, and gold of Jamaica’s national flag, reflecting support from the Jamaica Tourist Board, along with JustBet, Barita, TruShake, and Uncle Saaaal, McConnell will arrive in Barbados carrying strong Jamaican backing. On his first visit to the island for RB15, McConnell witnessed Jeff Panton and John Powell win outright for Jamaica.

“I am so excited to finally check Rally Barbados off my bucket list. I have always wanted to compete ever since I went to watch in 2015. Very rarely do you see fans with as much passion for motorsports as you do in Barbados, and I can’t wait to give them the show that they came to see,” McConnell said.

Co-driver and fellow countryman Justin Morin has rallied in Barbados before with Panton, finishing sixth in an Evo IX at RB07. He echoed his driver’s sentiments:

“I am super excited to be back rallying in Barbados in 2026 after a 20-year hiatus and look forward to teaming up with Fraser, who is a tremendous talent. It will be interesting to see how we stack up.”

Team Frazzz becomes the third Rally Jamaica (RJ) winner to compete in Rally Barbados. He was the youngest-ever RJ winner in 2017, joining Jeff Panton and Kyle Gregg, who won BCIC RB25.

McConnell’s Evo IX runs in Modified 4, which has the biggest entry for some years, with crews from England, Scotland, and Wales taking on island brothers Kurt, Mark, and Neil Thompson.

McConnell says: “I won’t be able to fight at the front of the rally with my Group A machine, but I will definitely be trying to get in the mix when I can.

“I have a lot to learn about Barbadian roads and hearing pace notes again will be a bit different from what I have been used to. However, I am looking forward to the challenges that Justin and I will face, and you can count on us having a blast the entire way.”