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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. In March the following year, Pabst officially confirmed McElrea as one of its entrants into the 2020 championship. 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.
Indy Lights McElrea signed with Andretti Autosport, for the 2022 Indy Lights season. He scored pole position on debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. 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. On 3 September, Andretti Autosport announced that McElrea would join them again for the 2023 season.
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. McElrea showed good pace throughout the weekend, but ultimately retired during the race, finishing 24th.
2026 On 27 March 2026, Ed Carpenter Racing hired McElrea as its reserve driver for the 2026 IndyCar Series.
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. McElrea would get his first win in the championship at Indianapolis and would win again at the 2024 Petit Le Mans.
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.
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. Andy is also the Founder & Team Principal of McElrea Racing, which competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship & Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia.
Racing record Career summary Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position 2015 Queensland Formula Ford McElrea Racing3210383NC 2016 Australian Formula Ford Series Torelli Motorsport120000789th Queensland Formula Ford 1600 Series McElrea Racing86138117NC 2017 Australian Formula Ford Series Sonic Motor Racing Services1722391894th 2018 Australian Formula Ford Series Sonic Motor Racing Services21133716321 1st 2019 U.S. F2000 National Championship Pabst Racing1545312356 2nd 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Pabst Racing1710263205th 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Pabst Racing183517378 3rd 2022 Indy Lights Andretti Autosport1423174604th 2023 Indy NXT Andretti Autosport142246474 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 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 TDS Racing 6 2 1 2 3 1828 9th 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 United Autosports USA 5 1 0 1 1 1336 21st IndyCar Series ECR Reserve driver * Season still in progress.
American open–wheel racing results
U.S. F2000 National Championship
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rank Points 2019 Pabst Racing STP1 STP2 IMS1 IMS2 LOR ROA1 ROA2 TOR1 TOR2 MOH1 MOH2 POR1 POR2 LAG1 LAG2 2nd 356
Indy Pro 2000 Championship
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1718 Rank Points 2020 Pabst Racing ROA1 ROA2 MOH1 MOH2 MOH3 LOR GMP IMS1 IMS2 IMS3 MOH4 MOH5 NJM1 NJM2 NJM3 STP1 STP2 5th 3202021 Pabst Racing ALA1 ALA2 STP1 STP2 IMS1 IMS2 IMS3 LOR ROA1 ROA2 MOH1 MOH2 GMP NJM1 NJM2 NJM3 MOH4 MOH5 3rd 378
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) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points 2022 Andretti Autosport STP ALA IMS IMS DET DET RDA MOH IOW NSH GTW POR LAG LAG 4th 460 2023 Andretti Autosport STP BAR IMS DET DET RDA MOH IOW NSH IMS GMP POR LAG LAG 2nd 474
IndyCar Series (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team No. Chassis 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 18 Dallara DW12 Honda STP THE LBH ALA IMS INDY DET ROA LAG MOH IOW IOW TOR GTW POR MIL MIL NSH 41st 6
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 SEB WGL MOS ELK IMS PET 18th 1563 2025 TDS Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY SEB WGL MOS ELK IMS PET 9th 1828 2026 United Autosports USA LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY SEB WGL MOS ELK IMS PET 21st 1336
References
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