Pourchaire Secures Arrow Mclaren Return For Barber

The team announced on Tuesday morning that for the forthcoming round at Barber Motorsports Park, Theo Pourchaire will continue to drive for Arrow McLaren.

Pourchaire, the defending Formula 2 champion, recently made his début in the IndyCar Series at the Streets of Long Beach. In the event, he replaced the injured David Malukas in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and finished a respectable eleventh from a starting position of 22nd.

As Malukas continues to recuperate from a left wrist injury and subsequent surgery subsequent to a mountain biking accident during the offseason, Pourchaire will serve as a teammate to Pato O'Ward and Alexander Rossi for the second consecutive race weekend.

A bow McLaren leaned on Callum Ilott early on as a stand-in for Malukas at various testing and the first two races of 2024, which included the non-points event at The Thermal Club last month. Due to a scheduling conflict with the FIA World Endurance Championship, Ilott was unable to compete at Long Beach; consequently, the team considered alternative candidates.

Last Sunday, Pourchaire, a reserve and test driver for the Formula 1 team Sauber, achieved the distinction of being the largest mover on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit. Previously, he disclosed that he had been hired "to drive for the next two races, to replace David." However, he added that the Barber Motorsports Park round was contingent on Malukas's health.

Long Beach learned over the weekend that Malukas' wrist was still pinched following the operation; the sutures are scheduled to be removed on Wednesday.

Prior to the California race, Arrow McLaren team principal Gavin Ward verified to Motorsport.com that Pourchaire would be in attendance at the picturesque 17-turn, 2.3-mile road course in Birmingham, Alabama.

Seeing Pourchaire get the opportunity to prolong his time in IndyCar doesn’t come as a surprise considering his performance, but also the praise that followed by Ward.

“We dropped Theo in about as much in the deep end as he could be dropped,” Ward said.

“We had high hopes and I love the way he's approached the weekend. He just got built up to it. He's completed every lap and just got better and better. Really, really remarkable debut. …

“The enthusiasm is infectious. You could hear it on the radio. He was enjoying himself out there and that's enjoyable. He's just been extremely pleased to be in IndyCar and make the most of this opportunity, so that makes everybody smile.”