Hunter McElrea

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Hunter McElrea
New Zealander
(1999-11-21) 21 November 1999Los Angeles, California, U.S.
2024
TDS Racing
FIA Silver
11
13 (13 entries)
5
7
1
4
9th in 2025
1 race run over 1 year
No. 18 (Dale Coyne Racing)
41st (2024)
2024 Honda Indy Toronto (Exhibition Place)
Wins
Podiums
Poles

0 0 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | Australian Formula FordU.S. F2000 National ChampionshipIndy Pro 2000 ChampionshipIndy Lights | | | | | IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (LMP2)Australian Formula Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On 27 March 2026, Ed Carpenter Racing hired McElrea as its reserve driver for the 2026 IndyCar Series.

McElrea's Oreca 07 at Watkins Glen in 2025

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.

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.

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.

Season	Series	Team	Races	Wins	Poles	F/Laps	Podiums	Points	Position
Queensland Formula Ford	McElrea Racing	3	2	1	0	3	83	NC
Australian Formula Ford Series	Torelli Motorsport	12	0	0	0	0	78	9th
Queensland Formula Ford 1600 Series	McElrea Racing	8	6	1	3	8	117	NC
Australian Formula Ford Series	Sonic Motor Racing Services	17	2	2	3	9	189	4th
Australian Formula Ford Series	Sonic Motor Racing Services	21	13	3	7	16	321	1st
U.S. F2000 National Championship	Pabst Racing	15	4	5	3	12	356	2nd
Indy Pro 2000 Championship	Pabst Racing	17	1	0	2	6	320	5th
Indy Pro 2000 Championship	Pabst Racing	18	3	5	1	7	378	3rd
Indy Lights	Andretti Autosport	14	2	3	1	7	460	4th
Indy NXT	Andretti Autosport	14	2	2	4	6	474	2nd
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
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2	TDS Racing	6	2	1	2	3	1828	9th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2	United Autosports USA	2	1	0	1	1	604	3rd*
IndyCar Series	ECR	Reserve driver

• Season still in progress.

(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)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

• Season still in progress.

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• Official website
• Hunter McElrea career summary at DriverDB.com
• Hunter McElrea driver statistics at Racing-Reference