Hunter McElrea

Hunter McElrea
NationalityNew Zealand New Zealander
Born (1999-11-21) 21 November 1999 (age 25)
Los Angeles, California, United States
IndyCar Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Team(s)No. 18 (Dale Coyne Racing)
Best finish41st (2024)
First race2024 Honda Indy Toronto
(Exhibition Place)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Previous series
2016–18
2019
2020–21
2022–23		Australian Formula Ford
U.S. F2000 National Championship
Indy Pro 2000 Championship
Indy Lights
Championship titles
2024
2018		IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (LMP2)
Australian Formula Ford

Hunter McElrea (born 21 November 1999 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is a New Zealand racing driver currently competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for TDS Racing.[1]

Career

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Karting

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McElrea began his career in karting at the age of seven.[2]

Formula Ford

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In 2015, McElrea stepped up to single-seaters, competing in Formula Ford championships in both Australia and New Zealand, sometimes with the family outfit McElrea Racing.[2][3] In 2018, McElrea contested a second full season of Australian Formula Ford with Sonic Motor Racing Services, accumulating thirteen wins and becoming the first non-Australian driver to win the title since 1985.[4]

Road to Indy

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USF2000 Championship

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In December 2018, McElrea won the $200,000 Mazda Road to Indy Shootout at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park to compete in the 2019 U.S. F2000 National Championship.[5] Joining with Pabst Racing, McElrea claimed four victories, including back-to-back wins at Portland and ultimately finished as championship runner-up after missing out on the title five points to Braden Eves.[6][7][8]

Indy Pro 2000

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In October 2019, McElrea reunited with Pabst to partake in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test, setting the fastest time in the Indy Pro 2000 category.[9] In March the following year, Pabst officially confirmed McElrea as one of its entrants into the 2020 championship.[10] His rookie season in Indy Pro 2000 netted him 5th position in championship, with six podiums and a win at the final race of the year at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. McElrea again signed for Pabst Racing, for the 2021 season. McElrea won races at Barber Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and New Jersey Motorsports Park on his way to 3rd in the championship. He also claimed seven podiums and a season leading five pole positions.

Indy Lights

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McElrea signed with Andretti Autosport, for the 2022 Indy Lights season.[11] He scored pole position on debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.[12] In 2022 McElrea achieved three pole positions, two race wins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Iowa Speedway, and claimed 'Rookie of the Year' honours.[13] On 3 September, Andretti Autosport announced that McElrea would join them again for the 2023 season.[14]

Indycar

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Personal life

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McElrea is the third generation in his motor racing family. His grandfather Rod McElrea won the New Zealand Beach Racing championships, in Nelson, in 1971 and the OSCA championships in 1983. His father Andy McElrea won the 1991 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship, and the 1996 New Zealand Trans-Am Championship.[3] Andy is also the Founder & Team Principal of McElrea Racing, which competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship & Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia.[15]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2015 Queensland Formula Ford McElrea Racing 3 2 1 0 3 83 NC
2016 Australian Formula Ford Series Torelli Motorsport 12 0 0 0 0 78 9th
Queensland Formula Ford 1600 Series McElrea Racing 8 6 1 3 8 117 NC
2017 Australian Formula Ford Series Sonic Motor Racing Services 17 2 2 3 9 189 4th
2018 Australian Formula Ford Series Sonic Motor Racing Services 21 13 3 7 16 321 1st
2019 U.S. F2000 National Championship Pabst Racing 15 4 5 3 12 356 2nd
2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Pabst Racing 17 1 0 2 6 320 5th
2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Pabst Racing 18 3 5 1 7 378 3rd
2022 Indy Lights Andretti Autosport 14 2 3 1 7 460 4th
2023 Indy NXT Andretti Autosport 14 2 2 4 6 474 2nd
2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 TDS Racing 5 2 0 1 3 1563 18th
IndyCar Series Dale Coyne Racing 1 0 0 0 0 6 41st

* Season still in progress.

American open–wheel racing results

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U.S. F2000 National Championship

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rank Points
2019 Pabst Racing STP
1
3 		STP
2
2 		IMS
1
2 		IMS
2
3 		LOR
11 		ROA
1
1 		ROA
2
3 		TOR
1
3 		TOR
2
14 		MDO
1
2 		MDO
2
1 		POR
1
1 		POR
2
1 		LAG
1
2 		LAG
2
7 		2nd 356

Indy Pro 2000 Championship

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Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points
2020 Pabst Racing ROA
1
15 		ROA
2
15 		MOH
1
8 		MOH
2
6 		MOH
3
2 		LOR
2 		GMP
11 		IMS
1
2 		IMS
2
6 		IMS
3
2 		MOH
4
3 		MOH
5
9 		NJM
1
6 		NJM
2
4 		NJM
3
5 		STP
1
4 		STP
2
1 		5th 320
2021 Pabst Racing ALA
1
6 		ALA
2
1 		STP
1
3 		STP
2
4 		IMS
1
10 		IMS
2
8 		IMS
3
7 		LOR
5 		ROA
1
7 		ROA
2
6 		MOH
1
4 		MOH
2
1 		GMP
3 		NJM
1
2 		NJM
2
2 		NJM
3
1 		MOH
4
7 		MOH
5
6 		3rd 378

Indy Lights/Indy NXT

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2022 Andretti Autosport STP
14L 		ALA
12 		IMS
1
2L 		IMS
2
6 		DET
1
12 		DET
2
2 		RDA
3 		MDO
1L* 		IOW
1L* 		NSH
3 		GTW
5 		POR
5 		LAG
1
3 		LAG
2
8 		4th 460
2023 Andretti Autosport STP
5 		BAR
13 		IMS
4 		DET
7L 		DET
4 		RDA
3 		MDO
4 		IOW
5 		NSH
2 		IMS
1L* 		GMP
3L 		POR
15 		LAG
1L* 		LAG
2 		2nd 474

IndyCar Series

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points Ref
2024 Dale Coyne Racing Dallara DW12 18 Honda STP
 THE
 LBH
 ALA
 IMS
 INDY
 DET
 ROA
 LAG
 MDO
 IOW
 IOW
 TOR
24 		GTW
 POR
 MIL
 MIL
 NSH
 41st 6 [16]

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rank Points
2024 TDS Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
13 		SEB
2 		WGL
9 		MOS ELK IMS
1 		PET
1 		18th 1563

References

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  1. ^ Herrero, Daniel (1 September 2022). "McElrea signs new Indy Lights contract with Andretti". Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b "CATCHING UP WITH HUNTER MCELREA". 17 January 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Lindsay, Brayden (13 October 2017). "Three generations team up in three-hour endurance motorsport race". Stuff. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  4. ^ "HUNTER MCELREA WINS WILD AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD TITLE". October 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Australian FFord champion Hunter McElrea wins MRTI Shootout". 10 December 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  6. ^ "MCELREA TO PABST RACING FOR 2019 COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP EFFORT". 12 February 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Hunter McElrea leads USF2000 after sweeping Portland". 2 September 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Braden Eves Wears USF2000 Crown". Speed Sport. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  9. ^ "VEEKAY, MCELREA, RASMUSSEN FASTEST AS IMS TEST ENDS". NTT IndyCar Series. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  10. ^ "MCELREA MOVES UP THE ROAD TO INDY LADDER WITH PABST RACING". 7 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  11. ^ Andretti (10 November 2021). "McElrea Signs with Andretti for 2022 Indy Lights Season".
  12. ^ "McElrea Steals St. Petersburg Pole in Closing Seconds". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Hunter McElrea wins Indy Lights Rookie of the Year". www.66magazine.co.nz. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  14. ^ "McElrea Staying with Andretti for 2023 Indy Lights Season". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Andy McElrea". www.mcelrearacing.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Hunter McElrea – 2024 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Michelin Endurance Cup
LMP2 Champion
2024
With: Mikkel Jensen & Steven Thomas 		Succeeded by
Incumbent


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