McLaren Racing has revealed that it will return to full-time IndyCar competition from 2020 in a strategic partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Chevrolet. McLaren last competed full-time in IndyCar in 1979.
Under the partnership, the team will be renamed Arrow McLaren Racing SP and will field two Chevrolet-powered cars in the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series, reflecting the continuing status of Arrow Electronics as the team’s title partner, as well as a new manufacturer partnership with Chevrolet.
The partnership will see the infrastructure of Arrow SPM underpin the team’s operations, while McLaren will add technical, commercial and marketing expertise. Arrow SPM co-founders Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson continue in their current roles.
Gil de Ferran, sporting director for McLaren Racing, will lead the McLaren IndyCar program and involvement in Arrow McLaren Racing SP. He will helm a dedicated group from McLaren Racing, independent of the Formula 1 team. De Ferran said, “IndyCar is a natural fit for McLaren, given our legacy and determination to succeed at the top levels of international motorsport. 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.”
