Fraser McConnell, launches off the 30 meter table jump during a practice round during the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. McConnell finished first in the battles races against Kevin Eriksson, seeding him for a first place start in the championship races on Sunday. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
Jamaica’s leading rally car driver swept into a first place finish in Saturday’s Nitro Rally Cross battles on Saturday, clinching the driver a pole position for Sunday’s championship races.
The Group E battles also gave McConnell an extra point, putting him at 277 points overall against second place leader Andreas Bakkerund.
Robin Larson has a commanding lead over the championship heading into the penultimate weekend races, with 344 points, guaranteeing him the top spot regardless of how the weekend scores going into the final two races in Los Angeles.
Kevin Eriksson took the second place position going into the weekend races, after loosing out to McConnell by nearly half a second in the final seeded battles race.
Swede Casper Jansson took first place in round five of the Nitro RX NEXT series, followed by Jimmy Henderson. This puts Jansson into first place in the series with 292 points, followed by Henderson with 286. George Meginnis, who did not compete in round five in Calgary, trails in third with 252 points.
Group E heats begin again at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, followed by NEXT series races at 12:55 p.m.
Photos from the day one of Nitro Rally Cross racing in Calgary
Teammates Jimmy Henderson, top, and Eric Gordon battle it out in the NEXT class at the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYConner Martell, left, leads over Kris Meeke leading into the start of the wide turn chicanes at the Calgary Nitro Rally on Saturday, February 4, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYKevin Eriksson, launches off the 30 meter table jump during a practice round during the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. Eriksson finished second in the battles races, seeding him for a second place start in the championship races on Sunday. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYOliver Eriksson, launches off the 30 meter table jump during a practice round during the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYFraser McConnell, launches off the 30 meter table jump during a practice round during the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. McConnell finished first in the battles races against Kevin Eriksson, seeding him for a first place start in the championship races on Sunday. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYKris Meeke, launches off the 30 meter table jump during a practice round during the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYTravis Pastrana, launches off the 30 meter table jump during a practice round during the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYFraser McConnell, launches off the 30 meter table jump during a practice round during the Calgary Nitro Rally Cross on Saturday, February 4, 2023. McConnell finished first in the battles races, seeding him for a first place start in the championship races on Sunday. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYAndreas Bakkerud slides around into the chicane leading towards the start line at the Calgary Nitro Rally on Saturday, February 4, 2023. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
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