MCLAREN RETURNS TO INDYCAR FULL TIME

McLaren Racing returns to IndyCar full time in 2020 – Photo: LAT

McLaren has officially announced it will make its proper return to IndyCar racing full time in 2020.

The iconic Formula 1 team, which has made cameo appearances at the Indy 500 with Fernando Alonso, will form a strategic partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsport which will see the squad renamed Arrow McLaren Racing SP with Arrow Electronics continuing as the team’s title sponsor.

“IndyCar has been part of McLaren since our early years of racing, and the series today provides not only a commercial platform to continue to grow our brand in North America, but competition with some of the best teams in international motorsport.” said Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing.

“This team provides McLaren with the right synergy as a strategic partner for our return to the sport. We believe together we can help each other achieve our mutual ambitions.”

“Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson have built a solid foundation and we look forward to working together to take the team to the next level.”

“I’m absolutely delighted that we will expand our relationship with Arrow Electronics across both F1 and IndyCar, while renewing our long affinity with Chevrolet as our engine partner.”

“McLaren and Chevrolet have a special history together in North America and it is fitting they are part of our full-time return to IndyCar.”

“We come to IndyCar in full respect of the sport, our competitors, the fans and the task ahead. At our core, we at McLaren are racers and where there’s competition that puts us to the test, we will race. The NTT IndyCar Series provides such a challenge.”

The partnership will see the existing infrastructure of Arrow SPM underpin the team’s operations, while McLaren will add technical expertise, commercial experience and marketing strength. Arrow SPM co-founders Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson continue in their current roles in the rebranded team.

“I’m extremely proud of the team that Ric and I have built and that a legendary brand like McLaren Racing has decided to partner with us to form Arrow McLaren Racing SP to continue our march to the top of IndyCar.” said Schmidt.

“Arrow is a tremendous partner which has been integral to our growth as a team since 2015 and to the creation of this new partnership. The combined technical resources and commercial opportunities both McLaren and Arrow bring to the table provide a winning combination.”

Gil de Ferran, Sporting Director, McLaren Racing, will lead McLaren’s IndyCar programme and its involvement in Arrow McLaren Racing SP, in what will be a dedicated group from McLaren Racing, independent of the Formula 1 team.

“IndyCar is a natural fit for McLaren, given our legacy and determination to succeed at the top levels of international motorsport.” said de Ferran.

“Our ambition, over time, is to consistently compete for wins and championships. We acknowledge the challenge ahead of us but McLaren is committed to this partnership and to supporting the team as a whole.”

The new partnership will also see the Schmidt and Peterson team will also switch from Honda to Chevrolet powered cars for the first time since 2010. Re-igniting McLaren’s long-standing history with the General Motors brand which stretches back to the mid-1960s.

McLaren last competed in IndyCar on a full-time basis in 1979.

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