Kiwi IndyCar hopeful Hunter McElrea will contest a second season in Indy Pro 2000, staying on with the Pabst Racing team.
McElrea finished fifth in his rookie Indy Pro 2000 campaign, claiming a maiden win in the final race of the season at St. Petersburg.
It was a year of learning for McElrea, who was dead last in the standings after the opening round where he failed to complete a race. What followed was a season of grit where the 21-year-old quickly found his groove, scoring five podiums in the space of the next nine races.
“I’m really excited to be back with the Pabst Racing team for the 2021 Indy Pro 2000 championship,” McElrea said.
“Last year was a year full of learning and development, and I can’t wait to put it to use this year. We showed that we are a winning combination, and I’m aiming to continue this into 2021.”
McElrea will once again be racing alongside the IndyCar Series at a number of events this year. He will also prove to be a valuable mentor for fellow New Zealander Billy Frazer who steps up the USF2000 championship this year, the category McElrea raced in 2019.
Pabst Racing are yet to confirm a teammate for McElrea for the season starting at Barber Motorsport Park in April.
“Having concluded our first Indy Pro 2000 season with a one-two finish at St. Pete 2020, we’re thrilled to maintain the team continuity with Hunter for 2021,” Pabst team owner Augie Pabst said.
“His commitment, both in and out of the car is second to none, coupled with everything we learned last year, I’m looking forward to continue right where we left off in 2020.”
