Hunter McElrea

Hunter McElrea (born 21 November 1999 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is a New Zealand racing driver with residence in Gold Coast, Australia.[1][2]

Hunter McElrea
Nationality New Zealand
Born (1999-11-21) November 21, 1999
Los Angeles, California, United States
Championship titles
2018Australian Formula Ford Champion

Career

Karting

McElrea began his career in karting at the age of seven.[3]

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.[3][4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7][8][9]

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.[10] In March the following year, Pabst officially confirmed McElrea as one of its entrants into the 2020 championship.[11] 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

On the 10th of November 2021, Andretti Autosport announced that McElrea would join their line up for the 2022 Indy Lights Championship.[12]

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.[4] Andy is also the Founder & Team Principal of McElrea Racing, which competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship & Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia championships.[13]

Racing record

Career summary
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2015 Queensland Formula Ford McElrea Racing 3 2 1 0 3 83 NC
2016 Australian Formula Ford Series Torelli Motorsport 12 0 0 0 0 78 NC
Queensland Formula Ford 1600 Series McElrea Racing 8 6 1 3 8 117 NC
2017 Australian Formula Ford Series Sonic Motor Racing Services 17 2 2 3 9 189 4th
2018 Australian Formula Ford Series 21 13 3 7 16 321 1st
2019 U.S. F2000 National Championship Pabst Racing 15 4 5 3 12 356 2nd
2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship 17 1 0 2 6 320 5th
2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship 18 3 5 1 7 378 3rd
2022 Indy Lights Andretti Autosport

*Season still in progress.

Motorsports career 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 STP
3		 STP
2		 IMS
2		 IMS
3		 LOR
11		 ROA
1		 ROA
3		 TOR
3		 TOR
14		 MDO
2		 MDO
1		 POR
1		 POR
1		 LAG
2		 LAG
7		 2nd 356

Indy Pro 2000 Championship
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points
2020 Pabst Racing ROA
15		 ROA
15		 MOH
8		 MOH
6		 MOH
2		 LOR
2		 GMP
11		 IMS
2		 IMS
6		 IMS
2		 MDO
3		 MDO
9		 NJM
6		 NJM
4		 NJM
5		 STP
4		 STP
1		 5th 320
2021 Pabst Racing ALA
6		 ALA
1		 STP
3		 STP
4		 IMS
10		 IMS
8		 IMS
7		 LOR
5		 ROA
7		 ROA
6		 MOH
4		 MOH
1		 GMP
3		 NJM
2		 NJM
2		 NJM
1		 MOH
7		 MOH
6		 3rd 378

Indy Lights
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2022 Andretti Autosport STP
14		 ALA
IMS
IMS
 DET
 DET
RDA
 MDO
 IOW
 NSH
 GTW
POR
LAG
LAG
 13th* 18*

*Season still in progress.

References
  1. "Hunter McElrea The Mazda Road To Indy Scholarship Shootout winner Joins the show!". 2019-01-14. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  2. "Hunter McElrea". 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  3. "CATCHING UP WITH HUNTER MCELREA". January 17, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  4. Lindsay, Brayden (October 13, 2017). "Three generations team up in three-hour endurance motorsport race". Stuff. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  5. "HUNTER MCELREA WINS WILD AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD TITLE". October 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  6. "Australian FFord champion Hunter McElrea wins MRTI Shootout". 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  7. "MCELREA TO PABST RACING FOR 2019 COOPER TIRES USF2000 CHAMPIONSHIP EFFORT". February 12, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  8. "Hunter McElrea leads USF2000 after sweeping Portland". September 2, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  9. "Braden Eves Wears USF2000 Crown". Speed Sport. September 22, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  10. "VEEKAY, MCELREA, RASMUSSEN FASTEST AS IMS TEST ENDS". NTT IndyCar Series. October 19, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  11. "MCELREA MOVES UP THE ROAD TO INDY LADDER WITH PABST RACING". March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  12. "Andretti Autosport | ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT WELCOMES HUNTER MCELREA TO 2022 INDY LIGHTS PROGRAM". Andretti Autosport. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  13. "Andy McElrea". www.mcelrearacing.com. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
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