The most recent champion of the FIA F2, Theo Pourchaire, will be making his debut in the IndyCar series this weekend at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, according to an announcement by Arrow McLaren. Pourchaire, who currently serves as a reserve driver for the Sauber F1 team, will be behind the wheel of the #6 Arrow McLaren car on the streets of the city just outside of Los Angeles. This opportunity will allow him to contribute valuable points to the team’s performance in the second race of the 2024 season. Pourchaire, aged 20, has been called in as a replacement for the injured David Malukas, who is still recovering from a broken wrist sustained while mountain biking in February.
In a statement, Pourchaire expressed his excitement about the opportunity to drive for a legendary team in the prestigious NTT IndyCar Series. Having been a fan of IndyCar since childhood, he is thrilled to have received the call from the team. He is grateful to Zak Brown, Gavin Ward, and Tony Kanaan for considering him for this opportunity, as well as to the Sauber team for allowing him to participate in the Long Beach race. Pourchaire acknowledges the challenge ahead of him, but he is ready to take it on.
For the opening round in St. Petersburg and the exhibition event at the Thermal Club, Callum Ilott served as the substitute driver. However, he will not be available for the upcoming race as he has committed to competing in the full 2024 WEC season with Hertz Team Jota. Ilott will be participating in the 6 Hours of Imola on the same weekend as the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Pourchaire has spent the past few weeks in America, where he had the opportunity to test in the Chevrolet simulator alongside Sporting Director Tony Kanaan and Kyle Larson. Notably, he will be sporting the Onsemi livery on his car, marking its debut for the 2024 season.
Gavin Ward, speaking on behalf of Arrow McLaren, expressed disappointment that David’s recovery is taking longer than expected. However, he commended the team’s efforts in supporting David’s rehabilitation and making necessary adjustments since his injury. Ward emphasized that while Theo may not have been expected to join the IndyCar paddock this season, the team is excited to see his performance on the track in Long Beach. They are grateful to Sauber for their collaboration in making this opportunity possible. Despite his young age, Pourchaire has an impressive racing record, and he is eager to put his skills to the test in the NTT IndyCar Series.
Whether or not Malukas will be fully recovered in time for the race at Barber Motorsports Park the following weekend remains uncertain. Arrow McLaren will announce the driver for that race next week.