Theo Pourchaire will make an unexpected return to McLaren’s IndyCar team this weekend after Alexander Rossi was injured in practice yesterday.
McLaren announced Pourchaire, who made five starts in their number six car earlier this year before being replaced by Nolan Siegel, will rejoin them in the number seven machine.
He will take the place of Rossi, who broke his right thumb in a crash at turn eight during the first practice session at the Toronto circuit. The reigning Formula 2 champion is travelling to Toronto from Europe and is not expected to arrive in time for the second practice session at the street track.
Pourchaire will therefore begin qualifying at the track without having completed a lap of the 2.8-kilometre, 11-turn course which he has never previously raced at.
“Theo will arrive to the track ahead of the qualifying session [on] Saturday afternoon, missing practice two as he travels to Toronto from Europe,” said McLaren in a statement.
McLaren originally hired Pourchaire as a replacement for David Malukas, who was unable to make his debut for the team at the beginning of the year after injuring his wrists. In May the team said Pourchaire would complete the season with them, and over the course of his five appearances for them he achieved a best finish of 10th at Detroit.
However in June McLaren announced it had signed a long-term deal with Siegel, who took over from Pourchaire in the number six car.
This week Pourchaire denied criticising McLaren over their decision to terminate his deal in an interview for a French magazine. The article was later pulled.
It remains to be seen whether Rossi will return in time for the next round of the championship at the Gateway oval on August 17th. “Alexander has returned to Indianapolis to begin his treatment and the team wishes him a quick recovery,” said McLaren.
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