IndyCar race winner Colton Herta will drive McLaren's 2021 challenger as part of a Formula 1 test role wit🐽h the team.

The highly-rated American has starred in IndyCꦇar in recent years, taking six wins as well as becoming the🧸 series' youngest-ever winner in 2019.

Herta will have the opportunity to drive ꧟the car that won the 2ℱ021 Italian Grand Prix - the MCL35M - through F1's Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) allowance.

The 21-year-old currently drives for Andretti Autosport in IndyCar, with the American te⭕am eyeing an entry into F1 soon.

Andretti was in talks with Alfa Romeo over 𒁏a potential takeover last year with Herta linked with an F1 drive if it went ꩵthrough.

Should Herta impress, a reunion with Lando Norris could be on the cards wiౠth the pair teaming up at Carlin back in 2015 during their MSA Formula campaign.

Reflecting on th🤪e announcement, Herta said driving an F1 car has alwayꦺs been on his “racing bucket list”.

“I want to thank McLaren for the opportunity to get my first laps in a Formula 1 car, which has always been on my racing bucket list,” he said. “This will be a great opportunity for me to gain some valuable experience in a new form of motorsport and learn from such an established 🃏🔴team like McLaren F1.”

Team principal Andreas Seidl added: “Colton 💞is a proven talent in IndyCar and we will be iಌnterested to see how he adapts to a Formula 1 car. 

“We believe this testing programme will pಌrovide him with valuable experience while demonstrating th💫e benefit of expanding previous car testing to showcase promising drivers for the future.”