Pourchaire back in the saddle in Toronto with Arrow McLaren!

©ArrowMcLaren

Less than a month after being dismissed by Arrow McLaren, Theo Pourchaire will return for a one-off with the IndyCar outfit at Toronto this weekend where he will sub for an injured Alexander Rossi.

Pourchaire was offered a full-time contract with Arrow McLaren after his impressive IndyCar debut with the team at Long Beach back in April.

But in June, after just five races with the outfit, he was informed that his services were no longer needed, with Arrow McLaren signing 19-year-old American hopeful and IndyCar rookie Nolan Siegel.

The shocking news was a big blow for the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Champion who vented his frustration recently in an interview with French magazine Auto-Hebdo.

Read also: Pourchaire ‘disgusted’ with McLaren after brutal IndyCar exit

At first, I was very surprised, I didn’t understand, I thought it was fake. We had only signed a few weeks before. I was disgusted,” he admitted.

But on Friday, Rossi broke a thumb in a crash in free practice for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, which compelled Arrow McLaren to recall Pourchaire.

©McLaren

“Following an on-track incident where Alexander Rossi sustained a broken right thumb, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team announces Theo Pourchaire to race the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for the remainder of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race weekend,” the team confirmed.

“Theo will arrive to the track ahead of the qualifying session Saturday afternoon, missing Practice 2 as he travels to Toronto from Europe. Alexander has returned to Indianapolis to begin his treatment and the team wishes him a quick recovery.”

Despite his dismissal, Pourchaire remains contracted to Arrow McLaren.

However, despite his familiarity with the car and team, the 20-year-old Sauber junior has no experience of the Toronto circuit.

He’ll therefore need to hit the ground running by quickly learning the track's layout at the outset of qualifying.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.