Hunter McElrea

McElrea began his career in karting at the age of seven.^[1]

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.^[1][2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5][6][7]

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.^[8] In March the following year, Pabst officially confirmed McElrea as one of its entrants into the 2020 championship.^[9] 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.^{[citation needed]}

McElrea signed with Andretti Autosport, for the 2022 Indy Lights season.^[10] He scored pole position on debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.^[11] 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.^[12] On 3 September, Andretti Autosport announced that McElrea would join them again for the 2023 season.^[13][14]

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.^[15] McElrea showed good pace throughout the weekend, but ultimately retired during the race, finishing 24th.^{[citation needed]}

On 27 March 2026, Ed Carpenter Racing hired McElrea as its reserve driver for the 2026 IndyCar Series.^[16]

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.^[17] McElrea would get his first win in the championship at Indianapolis and would win again at the 2024 Petit Le Mans.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[18]

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.^[2] Andy is also the Founder & Team Principal of McElrea Racing, which competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship & Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia.^[19]