Hunter McElrea wins Road to Indy Shootout
Australian Formula Ford Champion Hunter McElrea was announced on Monday as the winner of the Mazda Road to Indy Scholarship Shootout. The shootout win comes with a US$200,000 scholarship to sponsor a USF2000 drive for McElrea in 2019, the first step of the Mazda Road to Indy, designed as a pathway for young drivers aiming to one day drive in IndyCar.
McElrea took out the Australian Formula Ford championship earlier in 2018, qualifying him for the shootout at the famous Bondurant Racing School in Arizona.
McElrea told Indycar.com ““I can’t believe it”.
“This is definitely the most exciting opportunity that I have had in my racing career. I cannot thank Mazda and everyone enough for making this possible for me. The fact that I am going to be on the grid next year thanks to them is a dream come true.”
McElrea is the third annual recipient of the scholarship and the first Australian to win. Australia has been well-represented in recent years of USF2000, with Anthony Martin and Matthew Brabham taking the series in 2016 and 2012 respectively.
McElrea’s USF2000 season will begin in St. Petersburg, Florida, for Rounds 1 & 2 over the March 8-10 weekend.
