IndyCar rivals McLaren and Juncos Hollinger Racing have announced they plan “to enter a strategic alliance” starting in 2024.
McLaren also race in Extreme E, Formula 1 and Formula E, while Juncos’ activities outside IndyCar include two full-time cars in its primary feeder series Indy Nxt. Both teams use Chevrolet power in IndyCar and revealed changes to their management structures ahead of today’s announcement.“The alliance may evolve over time, beginning with a commercial and strategic focus, working together to grow their respective propositions,” said McLaren in their announcement. “The teams will also consider this alliance as a talent development opportunity, with the potential for engineers, mechanics and drivers to build their experience.”
McLaren have already announced their IndyCar line-up for 2024, with Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi being joined by David Malukas, who replaces the Meyer Shank Racing-bound Felix Rosenqvist and. O’Ward has raced for McLaren since 2020 and Rossi joined them this year as the team expanded to three full-time cars.
Juncos are expected to retain their 2023 driver pairing having also expanded, to a second car, by bringing Agustin Canapino in alongside Callum Ilott. They are are yet to confirm their plans.
Ilott has a 2024 deal and so far has not been poached by more competitive rivals. The Argentinian sponsorship Canapino brings is important to IndyCar as well his team since the series is trying to find a way of racing in the country.
“We’re continually working to strengthen all areas of our team, and a strategic alliance with Juncos Hollinger Racing helps both of us in leveraging our commercial and marketing power and the McLaren Racing brand in a new way,” said Gavin Ward, the recently promoted team principal of McLaren’s IndyCar squad.
“Our two teams have a lot of similarities in how we’re attracting partners and building a fan base,” Juncos president Ricardo Juncos said. “We’re starting out with a strategic alliance and we’ll see how that may evolve from here.”
Brad Hollinger, the co-owner of his team, added “we believe our alliance will enable us to accelerate our progress while also benefiting McLaren with commercial and talent development opportunities”.
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Don
3rd October 2023, 15:02
McLaren is maxed out for room at their current facility. This makes total sense until they get into Andretti’s facility, when they move to their gigantic new home being built. Should benefit both teams. Will one or two Juncos cars have McLaren liveries, and does this put Ilott in Mclaren’s control?
Picasso 1.9D FTW (@picasso-19d-ftw)
4th October 2023, 7:45
I just wish they could be a bit more vague. With all this detail about what a “strategic alliance” entails I feel like the mystery has gone.