Theo Pourchaire’s journey with Arrow McLaren came to an abrupt end just before the IndyCar series hit Laguna Seca. But that wasn’t the end of the story. After a recent interview with AUTOhebdo spread online, Pourchaire was compelled to clear the air. The French magazine claimed he was ‘disgusted’ with McLaren for supposedly breaking a contract. Pourchaire, however, says otherwise.
Not long after his job with Arrow McLaren ended, Theo Pourchaire had to make a public statement. His reaction came after AUTOhebdo published an interview that, according to Pourchaire, misrepresented his feelings about the departure. The magazine quoted him as being deeply displeased with McLaren, alleging that they went back on their agreement. But Pourchaire decided to set the record straight.
Taking to social media, Pourchaire expressed his disappointment over what he called a ‘grossly inaccurate’ portrayal of his words. He clarified that his departure from Arrow McLaren, while surprising, was handled amicably. He stated, ‘I’ve read the article published on AUTOhebdo this week, and I’m disappointed in how grossly inaccurate my words and comments portrayed my interview.’
Pourchaire acknowledged that it was disappointing not to race with McLaren anymore but emphasized that the team respected the entire contract. He mentioned key figures like Zak Brown, Gavin Ward, and Tony Kanaan, noting that they supported his efforts to return to IndyCar or other racing leagues. He also denied AUTOhebdo’s claims about McLaren’s stability and funding, calling them ‘absolutely false.’ Pourchaire said, ‘I’m appreciative of the time I had with the team, there are no hard feelings, and I hope this helps correct the perception there’s been about the team and myself.’
Pourchaire’s brief stint in IndyCar was eventful. Initially, David Malukas was supposed to drive McLaren’s No. 6 Chevrolet but had to withdraw due to a wrist injury. Pourchaire stepped in, debuting at the Long Beach Grand Prix and impressively climbing 11 spots to finish in 11th place. He took the wheel again at Barber in Alabama and was signed for the rest of the season, barring the Indianapolis 500, where he competed in Super Formula. He raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Detroit Grand Prix, and Road America before his unexpected exit.
Arrow McLaren then brought in rookie Nolan Siegel to replace him. During the Detroit race, Pourchaire had a run-in with Agustin Canapino from Juncos Hollinger Racing. That incident led to a flood of hate messages directed at Pourchaire on social media, although Canapino denied encouraging such behavior. Pourchaire’s best finish in the series was 10th place in Detroit.
Theo Pourchaire’s departure from Arrow McLaren sparked controversy, mainly fueled by a misrepresented interview. However, Pourchaire made it clear that there are no hard feelings between him and the team. His focus now shifts to future endeavors in racing, with hopes to get back on track soon.
Source: Planetf1
