Hunter McElrea

Last updated

Hunter McElrea
Hunter mcelrea (53166493327).jpg
Nationality Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Born (1999-11-21) 21 November 1999 (age 24)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Racing licence FIA Silver Driver.png FIA Silver
Indy Lights career
28 races run over 2 years
Team(s)No. 27 (Andretti Autosport)
First race 2022 Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg)
Last race 2023 Indy NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey
First win 2022 Indy Lights Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio (Mid-Ohio)
Last win 2023 Indy NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey
WinsPodiums Poles
4135

Hunter McElrea (born 21 November 1999 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is a New Zealand racing driver currently competing in Indy NXT for Andretti Autosport. [1]

Contents

Career

Karting

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

Formula Ford

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

USF2000 Championship

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

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

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]

Personal life

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 championships. [15]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2015Queensland Formula FordMcElrea Racing3210383NC
2016 Australian Formula Ford Series Torelli Motorsport120000789th
Queensland Formula Ford 1600 SeriesMcElrea Racing86138117NC
2017 Australian Formula Ford Series Sonic Motor Racing Services 1722391894th
2018 Australian Formula Ford Series Sonic Motor Racing Services 211337163211st
2019 U.S. F2000 National Championship Pabst Racing 15453123562nd
2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Pabst Racing 1710263205th
2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Pabst Racing 1835173783rd
2022 Indy Lights Andretti Autosport 1423174604th
2023 Indy NXT Andretti Autosport 1422464742nd
2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 TDS Racing 200115497th*

* Season still in progress.

American open–wheel racing results

U.S. F2000 National Championship

YearTeam123456789101112131415RankPoints
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		2nd356

Indy Pro 2000 Championship

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718RankPoints
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		5th320
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		3rd378

Indy Lights/Indy NXT

(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)

YearTeam1234567891011121314RankPoints
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		4th460
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		2nd474

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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

YearTeamClassMakeEngine1234567RankPoints
2024 TDS Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
13		 SEB
2		 WGL
MOS
ELK
IMS
PET
7th*549*

* Season still in progress.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Dennis</span> British racing driver (born 1995)

Jake Dennis is a British racing driver who lives in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He currently competes in the Formula E with Andretti Formula E. He also currently serves as a development driver for the Red Bull Racing Formula One team and is a BMW Factory driver. He is the 2022–23 Formula E world champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalton Kellett</span> Canadian racing driver

Dalton Kellett is a Canadian former racing driver from Stouffville, Ontario. He last competed in the IndyCar Series, driving for A. J. Foyt Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colton Herta</span> American racing driver

Colton Thomas Herta is an American open-wheel racing driver currently competing in the NTT IndyCar Series for Andretti Global with Curb Agajanian. He is the youngest person to ever win an IndyCar Series race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devlin DeFrancesco</span> Canadian racing driver

Devlin DeFrancesco is a Canadian-Italian auto racing driver formally competing in the IndyCar Series for Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport. In January 2022, DeFrancesco won the 60th running of the Daytona 24, alongside his teammates Eric Lux, Patricio O'Ward and Colton Herta, in the LMP2 class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Askew</span> American-Swedish race car driver

Oliver Clark Askew is an American-Swedish race car driver who races under the American flag. He is the 2019 Indy Lights champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Kirkwood</span> American racing driver

Kyle MacLean Kirkwood is an American auto racing driver. He currently drives the No. 27 for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series.

The 2019 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship was the tenth season – since its revival in 2010 – of the U.S. F2000 National Championship, an open wheel auto racing series that is the first step in INDYCAR's Road to Indy ladder, operated by Andersen Promotions. A 15-race schedule was announced on September 25, 2018, consisting of five permanent road courses and two street circuits on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule each hosting doubleheaders, and a single race at the Dave Steele Classic on a short oval.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasmus Lindh</span> Swedish Racing Driver

Rasmus Lindh is a Swedish racing car driver who is competing in Indy NXT in 2023 for Juncos Hollinger Racing in the #76 car, after switching from HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing. Lindh previously competed in the then Indy Lights for Juncos.

Linus Hans Fredrik Lundqvist is a Swedish racing driver who currently competes for Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series. He previously competed in Indy Lights driving for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing, having won the 2022 championship. He is also the 2020 Formula Regional Americas Champion. He made his IndyCar debut in 2023 driving the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda.

Danial Nielsen Frost is a Singaporean race car driver. He last competed in Indy NXT driving for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing.

The 2020 U.S. F2000 National Championship was the eleventh season of the U.S. F2000 National Championship since its revival in 2010. The championship serves as the first rung of the IndyCar Series's Road to Indy ladder system. An 18 race schedule was announced on 12 September 2019 featuring six permanent road courses, two street circuits, and a single oval in the Dave Steele Classic. The Dave Steele Classic race is a standalone race, while the Indianapolis road course race is now a stand-alone round due to the NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 and GMR Grand Prix is a doubleheader weekend so it is full.

The 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship was the 23rd season in series history. An 18-round schedule was announced on October 21, 2020, featuring five permanent road courses, two street circuits, and two ovals. The series started on April 17, 2021 at Barber Motorsports Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reece Gold</span> American racing driver

Reece Gold is an American racing driver currently competing in Indy NXT driving for HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Roe Jr.</span> Irish racing driver

James Roe Jr. is an Irish racing driver. He currently competes in Indy NXT driving the No. 29 Honda for Andretti Autosport. He previously drove for TJ Speed Motorsports in 2022. Roe previously competed in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship with Turn 3 Motorsport. Roe is a nephew of former racing driver Michael Roe.

Yuven Sundaramoorthy is an Indian-American racing driver. He currently competes in Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports. He previously drove for Exclusive Motorsport and Pabst Racing. Yuven is the first Indian American to win in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES sanctioned event.

Michael d'Orlando is an American racing driver who competes in the 2024 Indy NXT driving for Andretti Cape Indy NXT. He previously drove for Turn 3 Motorsport in the 2023 USF Pro 2000 Championship. He is the 2022 USF2000 champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Pierson</span> American racing driver

Joshua Pierson is an American racing driver. He competes in Indy NXT for HMD Motorsports, the FIA World Endurance Championship for United Autosport, and in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for TDS Racing. He previously competed in the U.S. F2000 National Championship with Pabst Racing.

Christian Brooks is an American racing driver. He currently competes in the 2024 USF Pro 2000 Championship driving for Pabst Racing. Brooks previously drove for Turn 3 Motorsport in the USF Pro 2000 Championship and previously competed in the USF2000 Championship with Exclusive Autosport.Christian Brooks is the only race car driver to win 4 times at the streets of St. Petersburg out of all racing categories including Indy Car.

The 2022 Indy Lightspresented by Cooper Tires was the 36th season of the Indy Lights open wheel motor racing series and the 20th sanctioned by IndyCar, acting as the primary support series for the IndyCar Series. It was held over 14 races, consisting of two ovals and nine road and street courses. It was the last held under the "Indy Lights" branding.

The 2023 Firestone Indy NXT Series was the 36th season of the Indy NXT open wheel motor racing series and the 21st sanctioned by IndyCar, acting as the primary support series for the IndyCar Series. Known as Indy Lights before 2023, the championship was rebranded following its acquisition by Penske Entertainment, the owner of the IndyCar Series, in 2022. This rebrand coincided with the three lower support series, still run by Anderson Promotions, also changing their branding.

References

  1. ↑ Herrero, Daniel (1 September 2022). "McElrea signs new Indy Lights contract with Andretti". Speedcafe. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "CATCHING UP WITH HUNTER MCELREA". 17 January 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 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. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
F1 chequered flag.svg

This biographical article related to United States auto racing is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.