Hunter McElrea

Hunter McElrea (born 21 November 1999 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American-born New Zealand racing driver currently competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in LMP2 for United Autosports USA. He is also the reserve driver for IndyCar Series team Ed Carpenter Racing.

Junior career

Karting

McElrea began his career in karting at the age of seven.^[1]

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.^[1][2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5][6][7]

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.^[8] In March the following year, Pabst officially confirmed McElrea as one of its entrants into the 2020 championship.^[9] 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 third in the championship. He also claimed seven podiums and a season leading five pole positions.^{[citation needed]}

Indy Lights

McElrea signed with Andretti Autosport, for the 2022 Indy Lights season.^[10] He scored pole position on debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.^[11] 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.^[12] On 3 September, Andretti Autosport announced that McElrea would join them again for the 2023 season.^[13][14]

IndyCar Series

2024

Prior to the twelfth round of the 2024 IndyCar Series, Dale Coyne Racing announced that it had signed McElrea to contest the Toronto IndyCar race in their No. 18 Honda.^[15] McElrea showed good pace throughout the weekend, but ultimately retired during the race, finishing 24th.^{[citation needed]}

2026

On 27 March 2026, Ed Carpenter Racing hired McElrea as its reserve driver for the 2026 IndyCar Series.^[16]

Sportscar racing career

IMSA SportsCar Championship

2024

In 2024, McElrea made the switch to sportscar racing and signed with TDS Racing to compete in the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship in LMP2. He would compete in the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds alongside Steven Thomas and Mikkel Jensen.^[17] McElrea would get his first win in the championship at Indianapolis and would win again at the 2024 Petit Le Mans.^{[citation needed]}

2025

McElrea returned to the championship for the 2025 season, continuing to compete with TDS Racing. He would once again join Steven Thomas and Mikkel Jensen.^[18]

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.^[2] Andy is also the Founder & Team Principal of McElrea Racing, which competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship & Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia.^[19]

Racing record

Career summary

* Season still in progress.

American open–wheel racing results

U.S. F2000 National Championship

Indy Pro 2000 Championship

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)

IndyCar Series

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

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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

^* Season still in progress.

References

1. ^ "CATCHING UP WITH HUNTER MCELREA". 17 January 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
2. ^ Lindsay, Brayden (13 October 2017). "Three generations team up in three-hour endurance motorsport race". Stuff. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
3. ^ "HUNTER MCELREA WINS WILD AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD TITLE". October 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2020.^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Australian FFord champion Hunter McElrea wins MRTI Shootout.". 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
5. ^ "MCELREA TO PABST RACING FOR 2019 COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP EFFORT". 12 February 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
6. ^ "Hunter McElrea leads USF2000 after sweeping Portland". 2 September 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
7. ^ "Braden Eves Wears USF2000 Crown". Speed Sport. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
8. ^ "VEEKAY, MCELREA, RASMUSSEN FASTEST AS IMS TEST ENDS". NTT IndyCar Series. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
9. ^ "MCELREA MOVES UP THE ROAD TO INDY LADDER WITH PABST RACING". 7 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
10. ^ Andretti (10 November 2021). "McElrea Signs with Andretti for 2022 Indy Lights Season"
11. ^ "McElrea Steals St. Petersburg Pole in Closing Seconds". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
12. ^ "Hunter McElrea wins Indy Lights Rookie of the Year". www.66magazine.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
13. ^ "McElrea Staying with Andretti for 2023 Indy Lights Season". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
14. ^ Herrero, Daniel (2022-09-01). "McElrea signs new Indy Lights contract with Andretti". Speedcafe. Archived 3 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
15. ^ "McElrea to make IndyCar debut with Coyne in Toronto". RACER. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
16. ^ Barnes, Joey (27 March 2026). "Hunter McElrea tabbed as reserve driver by ECR". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
17. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2023-11-09). "TDS Signs Indy NXT Runner-Up McElrea for Enduros – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
18. ^ Chapman, Simon (2024-11-14). "McElrea announces 2025 racing plans". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
19. ^ "Andy McElrea". www.mcelrearacing.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
20. ^ "Hunter McElrea – 2024 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 16, 2024.

External links

• Official website