In an surprising twist, Arrow McLaren has changed Theo Pourchaire with Indy NXT driver Nolan Siegel for the rest of the 2024 IndyCar season.
This shake-up comes solely weeks after the staff revealed that Pourchaire could be stepping in for the injured David Malukas for the rest of the 2024 season.
The FIA Components 2 Champion and Sauber F1 reserve driver was initially introduced in as a short lived alternative for Malukas, who sustained a pre-season wrist harm that required surgical procedure and an unclear restoration interval.
However on the again of Pourchaire’s robust debut within the NTT IndyCar Collection, the Frenchman was signed by Arrow McLaren for the rest of the 12 months.
Simply weeks later, the staff has modified course as soon as once more, opting to enroll Siegel to take over the reins.
The 19-year-old American – a rising star within the Indy NXT feeder sequence and a category winner at Le Mans final weekend with Zak Brown’s United Autosport LMP2 staff – has been awarded a multi-year contract that extends into the 2025 season.
“Stability and sustained development are key to our long-term sport plan right here, and it is a important step in that mission,” mentioned Gavin Ward, Crew Principal for Arrow McLaren.
“First, I wish to thank Théo for his time filling in on the No. 6 automotive with us in latest weeks. We’ve been working by way of musical chairs all season, and in the end, making this variation to Nolan now that he’s accessible provides us the prospect to construct a basis for the longer term.
“He’s a younger, proficient driver with an immense quantity of expertise at this stage of his profession and we’re excited to proceed on the upward journey collectively.”
Arrow-McLaren new recruit Nolan Siegel (©IndyCar).
The choice is an enormous blow to Pourchaire’s burgeoning profession. Regardless of successful final 12 months’s Components 2 title, the 20-year-old was denied a promotion to F1.
Initially earmarked for a 12 months in Tremendous Components, Arrow McLaren’s surprising name was a welcome alternative to maneuver west to maintain his momentum going. He now as soon as once more faces time on the sidelines.
Including insult to harm, Pourchaire was knowledgeable of his staff’s resolution by McLaren’s particular advisor Tony Kanaan mere hours earlier than the official announcement.
Simply the day earlier than, Pourchaire had been actively sharing his pleasure about racing at Laguna Seca this weekend on social media.
“No person takes that information nicely,” Kanaan admitted, quoted by The Race.
“I defined it to him and gave him a number of examples of what I’ve been by way of.
©McLaren
“The primary query you ask your self is ‘what did I do? Did I do something mistaken?’. He didn’t do something mistaken. It was simply the state of affairs. It was only a name that we needed to make.
“It wasn’t private, it wasn’t due to his efficiency. I believe he’s executed no matter he may do. He wasn’t glad however he understood.”
“This has obtained nothing to do with how he was driving or working with the staff,” added Ward. “All of us actually like Theo and his angle coming into the staff.
“However we have to set ourselves up for long-term competitiveness.”
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