Arrow McLaren SP has arguably become the 2020 IndyCar season’s most notable newcomers. In what will be McLaren’s first full-time gig in IndyCar since the end of 1979, the team has opted for two youngsters in Patricio O’Ward and Oliver Askew to marshal McLaren’s assault upon the US.
Last weekend, Arrow McLaren SP officially launched their 2020 campaign and livery. The car’s design showcases a prominent use of the traditional McLaren papaya orange, coupled with an all matte-black outline that echoes the look of a stealth fighter jet.
Team co-owner Sam Schmidt said the livery reveal was “not only a car launch but it is representative of thousands of hours of effort by our team members and partners”
The car will be powered by Chevrolet engines after Honda refused to continue their supply to Arrow Schmidt Peterson. The Japanese manufacturer opting out of their initial supplier contract following the announcement of the merger between Arrow SP and McLaren. The reason owing to their unceremonious exclusion as power unit supplier for the works McLaren Formula One team from 2015 until the end of 2017.
Arrow McLaren SP suffered a taste of public disapproval after the team made the hasty decision to drop James Hinchcliffe. The news of Hinchcliffe’s acrimonious end to his IndyCar career was then superseded by the team opting to sign a driver combination that shares merely seven races between the two.
Gil de Ferran, McLaren’s sporting director commented ahead of the launch, “This occasion is also an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges ahead and make a pact with ourselves that nothing other than our full effort and commitment will suffice.”
McLaren has since made two previous attempts of a return to IndyCar. The team endeavouring on an Indy 500 campaign with Andretti Autosport in 2017, before going it alone in 2019.
