The announcement came this evening as expected since the beginning of the week. The native of Grasse, Théo Pourchaire, who has already competed in the first two races of the season, will finish the IndyCar season. We will see him back on the track this weekend for the Indianapolis GP.
After two rather promising races on the urban circuit of Long Beach and then at Barber, Théo Pourchaire managed to convince the McLaren Arrow team to keep him until the end of the season. The Formula 2 champion will therefore drive the No. 6 car until the end of the 2024 season.
“IndyCar is among the best competitions in motorsport, and I can now say that with some experience,” Théo Pourchaire told American media. “I am thrilled to take on this challenge with Arrow McLaren for the rest of the season. It is a special opportunity, and I am committed to learning and improving as we hit the track each race weekend. I enjoyed my first two races with the team and know that we have a lot of potential.”
Not present for the Indy 500 or in SuperFormula?
Although the French driver made good tests earlier in the week on the Gateway oval, McLaren decided not to let him take the wheel for the Indianapolis 500. The reason is his lack of experience on this type of track, a disadvantage against competitors used to this specific driving style. Nevertheless, he will have the opportunity to get some practice on other ovals during the season. Who knows, maybe he will participate in the 109th edition of the Indy 500 in 2025? As it stands, the wheel is expected to go to Callum Ilott, who had already replaced David Malukas at the start of the season. However, the British driver could not contend for this seat long-term due to his commitment to the WEC.
On the other hand, this appointment sounds the death knell for his Japanese adventure. The fault lies in two calendars that overlap too much. Théo Pourchaire would have been forced to miss three races this season, not to mention the numerous trips back and forth between the United States and Japan. A situation that would have been untenable in the long run.
We will therefore see Théo Pourchaire in action this weekend for the Indianapolis Grand Prix!
