Craig Hampson Joins Arrow McLaren SP

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer

Successful INDYCAR engineer Craig Hampson makes the jump from Dale Coyne Racing to Arrow McLaren SP as the team announced Monday that he’ll be their Race and R&D Engineer in 2020.

Hampson becomes the third notable DCR personnel that’s no longer with the team in a span of three months, putting them in a tough spot as far as how they’ll fare in the upcoming NTT IndyCar Series campaign.

In late October, Santino Ferrucci’s race engineer Michael Cannon joined Chip Ganassi Racing to help five-time champion Scott Dixon. The following month, DCR dismissed veteran driver Sebastien Bourdais, who Hampson has led the Frenchman to multiple victories and four Champ Car World Series titles (2004-07).

According to RACER, Hampson was supposed to be with DCR and Bourdais for a fourth season before the events of November occurred.

While one chapter closes, Hampson is excited to start a new one with a team that’s determined to be a force to be reckon with.

“I am very excited to be joining the highly capable group of talented team members that Arrow McLaren SP has already assembled,” Hampson said. “There are people there who I have worked with in the past, plus others who I have previously regarded as formidable competition. I am eager to integrate into the projects, preparation, and momentum that they already have underway for the 2020 season.”

The addition of the Chicago resident will further boost the Chevrolet squad that’ll be driven by the last two Indy Lights champions Pato O’Ward (2018) and Oliver Askew (2019).

“This will be a year of growth and learning,” Hampson said. “But I’m confident that this team has the expertise, commercial backing, access to technology, and willful ambition that makes it possible to plot a course where in due time we will regularly challenge for race wins, Indy 500 victories, and season championships.”

Taylor Kiel, Managing Director of Arrow McLaren SP, commented that recruiting Hampson was key in order to showcase its rookie drivers that they’re going to be the real deal in an already stacked INDYCAR grid.

“Recruiting someone of Craig’s experience and expertise is an important step for the team as we build towards the next level of competitiveness,” Kiel said. “He is not only an accomplished and well-respected engineer but a strong technical leader who will be a key member of our established team.”

Before working with DCR, the 25-year veteran has worked with Newman/Haas Racing and Andretti Autosport. In his illustrious career, Hampson’s technical approach has led to 38 wins and two Indianapolis 500 victories.