French racing driver Théo Pourchaire, reigning Formula 2 champion who this season was attempting an adventure in Indycar, the North American championship, was ousted on Tuesday by his Arrow McLaren team after only five races. “Arrow McLaren announces that the team has signed Nolan Siegel to drive the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2024 season and beyond,” the team announced on its X account this Tuesday.
The young Californian, 19, will make his debut on Sunday at the Monterey Grand Prix on the Laguna Seca circuit. Aged 20, Pourchaire arrived in IndyCar in April to replace the injured American David Malukas. Last month, Arrow McLaren extended its contract until the end of the season, with the exception of the Indianapolis 500.
The car that Théo Pourchaire drove in Indycar. SUSA / Icon Sport
In an interview given to AFP in mid-May after the announcement of his extension, Pourchaire explained that the North American championship was “an incredible opportunity” on which he hoped to capitalize in order to arrive in F 1, his “greatest dream “. “The team,” he said then, “offered me to finish the season. I accepted straight away. For me, this is the biggest opportunity of my career. This is quite a turn that I didn’t expect. I now want to perform and win in Indycar, it’s a great championship which allows me to be a professional driver. »
Pourchaire is also a reserve driver this season for the Sauter team in F 1. His best result in five Indycar rounds is a 10th place at the end of May in Detroit.
