Callum Ilott will remain on the INDYCAR grid for another race, filling in for the injured David Malukas at Arrow McLaren. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)
For at least one race, Callum Ilott will not have to worry about not being a part of an INDYCAR grid as Arrow McLaren confirmed Tuesday he will be driving the No. 6 Chevrolet in the season opener at St. Petersburg.
Ilott will be filling in for David Malukas, who underwent wrist surgery last month and postponed his debut with the organization.
Last month, Malukas was involved in a mountain bike accident where he sustained multiple torn ligaments and dislocated his left wrist. Therefore, the team had to make a seat for Ilott to test for Arrow McLaren at the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course and then have Pato O’Ward test Malukas’ car during testing at Sebring International Raceway.
Already having valuable seat time for the No. 6 team, Ilott ended up being a shoe-in as Malukas’ temporary replacement while he continues to recover from surgery. It will be a matter of time how he will adapt on a race weekend setting with a new team and how St. Petersburg will unfold.
“I think it kind of goes without saying that every racing driver wants to prove what they can do, and this is a perfect opportunity to do it. The test at Homestead went really well. So far gearing up to this weekend, it’s all going very smoothly,” Ilott explained. “I fit in quite well in a last-minute situation. I wish David all the best and he gets to be in the car as soon as possible, but I’ll try and do the best job that I can within that time.
“It’s obviously an interesting place to be and an interesting place to see what I can do, but again, I can’t really comment until I get on there, but that’s the goal, right, to do as well as possible.”
David Malukas underwent wrist surgery following a mountain bike accident in February. (Photo: Joe Skibinski | Penske Entertainment)
With the opener days away, it is all optimism for Ilott as the popular Floridan street circuit was the site of his first career top-five finish. Driving for Juncos Hollinger Racing, the 25-year-old British racer’s effort last year was one of the few high points in an improving yet trying campaign.
While Ilott finished 16th in points and scored another top-five in the season finale at Laguna Seca, JHR didn’t welcome Ilott back to their No. 77 Chevrolet and opted to sign Romain Grosjean instead.
Consequently, Ilott was left without an INDYCAR ride and decided to take his talents in the FIA World Endurance Championship, a new venture he is happy about partaking.
“I felt that maybe it was slightly premature, what happened end of last year. It’s life and you have to find the best situation for yourself and work with that,” Ilott on being released from Juncos Hollinger Racing. “To be fair, I’m very fortunate to be in a super competitive seat with Hertz Team Jota and hit the ground running on that.”
Just returning from Qatar where the No.12 Hertz Team Jota Hypercar squad came home second overall, Ilott is grateful to be given a shot in one of INDYCAR’s premiere rides.
“It’s great to be back. It’s great to the back in the series and getting on with it with the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Really excited. It’s a great race to come in for,” said Ilott. “We’ll get to work together and get him up to speed with the team as quick as possible, and also for me, as well, I need to get up to speed.
“Really grateful for the opportunity, so thanks to Zak (Brown), Gavin (Ward), Tony (Kanaan), the whole team and NTT Data for letting me in the car. It’s going to be exciting. Also, got to give a thanks to Hertz Team Jota for allowing me to do this race. I’m very pumped to get going and give this car a go.”
As for the story behind Ilott not partaking in the Sebring test, it traces back to his full-time ride in WEC as his priority was both the Prologue and 1812 kilometer race in Losail. It was a tough decision, but everything unfolded in Ilott’s favor by concentrating on the Hypercar.
It resulted in an aforementioned podium outing for the trio of Ilott, Norman Nato and Will Stevens.
Despite Malukas’ absence, the No. 6 Chevrolet were able to log laps with Pato O’Ward at Sebring International Raceway as Ilott was competing in WEC at Qatar. (Photo: Chris Owens | Penske Entertainment)
If things go well in St. Pete, time will tell if the door remains open for an INDYCAR return, but Ilott commented that WEC is what he has his eyes on in the future. More importantly, he simply hopes Malukas gets back to racing as soon as possible with the Apr. 21 race in Long Beach tentatively being the goal for his return.
“I think WEC is the priority for me, and it will be for the near future. Of course, if I’m available and what’s needed is me, then of course I’m open to doing it,” Ilott explained. “We’ll have to see what happens on that side. But I pray for David that that’s not the case because you want to be in the car and you want to work with your team.
“I hope that he is in the car very soon because it’s very tough — I can understand — even for me, the one race I did out of the car after the 500 in 2022, it’s tough to sit and watch. I don’t really wish that on anyone, especially with a new team. It’s very tough. I do feel for David, and again, want him to be in the car as soon as possible.”
When the second round of the championship trail commences in Southern California, the WEC will host its second round of the campaign at Imola for its first of four six-hour endurance events. However, there is no scheduling conflict for Ilott when INDYCAR heads to Thermal Club, a non-points race where a million dollars is on the line.
“I am available for Thermal, but again, that’s a later point whether we’ll know if that’s the case or not,” said Ilott. “We’ll see what happens with David and the team and for the future.”
