Dale Coyne Racing has announced that rising motorsport talent Hunter McElrea will make his NTT IndyCar Series debut this weekend at the Honda Indy Toronto.
Hunter McElrea is set to make his NTT IndyCar Series debut this weekend at the prestigious Honda Indy Toronto behind the wheel of the No. 18 Honda entry for Dale Coyne Racing, replacing the injured Jack Harvey.
The 24-year-old has been working tirelessly towards this opportunity, having impressed the Dale Coyne Racing team during a recent one-day test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
The American-born Kiwi quickly adapted to the power and handling of the IndyCar machinery, showcasing his potential and earning the confidence of the team’s management.
“It’s a dream come true for me to be making my NTT IndyCar Series debut,” said an excited McElrea.
“I’ve been working towards this moment for a long time, and I have to thank Dale (Coyne) and his team for giving me this incredible opportunity.
“I can’t wait to get to Toronto, which is one of the coolest events on the calendar, and show what I can do.”
McElrea’s rise through the motorsport ranks has been nothing short of impressive. He enjoyed a promising junior single-seater career before success in the Indy NXT series, where he finished as the 2023 championship runner-up and was named Rookie of the Year in 2022.
The young driver was the vice-champion in the 2019 USF2000 Championship and secured a third-place finish in the 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship.
Earlier this year, he also secured a runner-up LMP2 class finish at the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
Dale Coyne, owner of the Dale Coyne Racing team, expressed his confidence in McElrea’s abilities, stating: “Hunter impressed the team during our test last week at Mid-Ohio.
“He quickly got up to speed and helped run through our testing plan. I’m excited to see what he can do on the streets of Toronto this weekend as he makes his NTT IndyCar Series debut.”
The announcement comes as Jack Harvey, the car’s primary driver, continues to recover from neck and back pain. He qualified for the dual races in Iowa this past weekend, but was only able to complete a few laps of the first race Saturday night before being forced to retire from the race due to the pain.
Conor Daly stepped in for the second race on Sunday, but only drove just past the halfway mark before mechanical issues put a stop to his substitute effort.
The Honda Indy Toronto race, scheduled for July 17, 2024, will be a significant milestone in McElrea’s career, as he takes the next step in his journey towards becoming a prominent figure in the world of IndyCar racing.
Motorsport fans around the globe will be tuning in to witness the start of what could be a remarkable and highly anticipated IndyCar journey for the young New Zealand talent.
