THIRD-Generation driver and Australian Formula Ford graduate Hunter McElrea will test a USF2000 car in Indianapolis this weekend.

After finishing fourth in this year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship with Sonic Motor Racing, the 18-year-old Queensland based driver flew out on Wednesday for the annual Mazda Road to Indy Chris Griffis Memorial Test, held on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

USF2000 is the first rung on the ‘Road to Indy’ ladder that progresses to ProMazda, Indy Lights and, ultimately, the Verizon IndyCar series.

The winner of each class receives a funded scholarship to progress to the next level, with the Indy Lights winner ultimately taking US$1m to go towards three IndyCar races – including the Indy 500 – the following year.

The concept is such that after funding the first year in USF2000, a successful driver could theoretically race his way to the highest level in US open-wheel racing.

The test comes as the next step in McElrea – the son of Carrera Cup team owner Andy – following his dream to race in the IndyCar series.

“As my goal for awhile now has been Indy Car, I have always been looking toward getting over there, so when this opportunity came up, with the support of a very generous supporter of mine and my family it was able to become possible,” McElrea explained.

“For me there is no other category that is as competitive as Indy Car, or as level a playing field so that really excites me, plus I think the cars are awesome.”

He says his preparation for the test has been ongoing: “Mainly my usual fitness and some vision that the team have sent me, in terms of sim work there’s actually no exact Indy Car Indianapolis Road course so I’ve mainly been studying the track with vision.

McElrea narrowly missed out on a podium finish in this year’s Formula Ford championship after a tough final round recently.

He did, however, score multiple poles, two race wins and seven other top three finishes this year.

“This year in Formula Ford was awesome: it was disappointing not to get the Championship I was after, but I was able to enjoy many awesome moments with my Sonic team: wins, poles and fastest laps. I can’t thank Mick and Maria for how much they have taught me on and off the track this year.”

The test comes at a busy time for the Junior McElrea, who last weekend raced a Toyota 86 with both his father, Andy and grandfather Rod in the South Island Endurance Series finale at Levels Raceway, near Timaru. It is thought to be the first time in NZ Motorsport that three generations of the same family have shared a car in the same race.

The trio scored a podium in class racing against much more powerful machines in the diverse enduro field.

The USF2000 test is held over two days on the IMS Road Course, the same track used by the IndyCar series for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in early May each year.

WORDS: Richard Craill