McLaren MCL-HY Hypercar Targets Le Mans 2027 Glory
McLaren has revealed the MCL-HY FIA Hypercar, the sports car that will challenge in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027. The MCL-HY Hypercar also forms the basis for an exclusive track-car derivative, the MCL-HY GTR, which McLaren currently offers to VIP clients through the Project: Endurance programme.
McLaren will develop the revealed car throughout a rigorous test programme in 2026 ahead of homologation in the winter. The team presented the car in a striking 2026 test livery that draws inspiration from the McLaren M6A, the car Bruce McLaren once dreamed of taking to La Sarthe as the M6GT. This heritage nod positions the MCL-HY as a clear declaration of intent. Sports car racing runs through McLaren's DNA, from its dominance of Can-Am in the late 1960s and early 1970s to its legendary triumph at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans with the McLaren F1 GTR.
McLaren's return to the premier class at Le Mans also marks the start of a fresh challenge for the Triple Crown of motorsport, which spans victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren already competes at the pinnacle of Formula 1 and the NTT IndyCar Series. Hence, the MCL-HY completes the final piece of an ambition that McLaren sits uniquely placed to pursue.
The McLaren Hypercar Team will begin on-track testing of the MCL-HY in May 2026, running a programme to support the simultaneous development of both the race car and its track-car counterpart ahead of McLaren's WEC debut in 2027.
For the 2026 test programme, McLaren Hypercar Team works driver Mikkel Jensen will receive support from McLaren Driver Development Programme (DDP) drivers Gregoire Saucy and Richard Verschoor. United Autosports driver Ben Hanley will also bring valuable development experience to the team.
McLaren has built the MCL-HY to the ACO / IMSA LMDh regulations, combining a lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis with exceptional balance. A twin-turbocharged V6 race engine, paired with a hybrid MGU system, powers the car, delivering up to 520kW (707 PS) to the driven rear axle. With a minimum weight of 1,030kg and a highly efficient power-to-weight ratio, the MCL-HY balances outright performance with endurance racing efficiency, and McLaren has designed it to operate at the very highest level of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the demanding 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A tightly integrated collaboration has shaped McLaren's FIA Hypercar, applying world-class engineering and aerodynamics capability from McLaren Racing while drawing on the design expertise of McLaren Automotive to integrate McLaren's design DNA.
The MCL-HY GTR track car variant represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive. McLaren engineered the track car in parallel with the race car, deliberately developing it without the FIA Hypercar's mandated LMDh hybrid system. Instead, a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged racing engine powers it, resulting in a lower dry weight while producing circa 730PS. This decision ensures that clients enjoy a purer driving experience on track days, one that delivers authentic Hypercar performance and feel without additional complexity, alongside a simpler ownership model that prioritises accessibility above all else.
Ownership of the MCL-HY GTR extends far beyond the car itself. McLaren Automotive has developed an exclusive programme that offers unprecedented access to McLaren Racing's World Endurance Championship operation. Project: Endurance will immerse clients in the team's journey, from testing and development through to the drama of the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.
MCL-HY GTR owners will also take part in a two-year, six-event track-driving programme held at premier international circuits, including opportunities to drive their cars at PURE McLaren track events. Each client will benefit from professional driver coaching, a dedicated pit crew and race engineering support, and will participate on a fully inclusive arrive-and-drive basis.
Deliveries of the McLaren MCL-HY GTR track car will begin towards the end of 2027.
"Years and months in the making, and here we are, revealing the MCL-HY to the world. McLaren Racing now has three race cars ready to contest the biggest motorsport series in the world: Formula 1, INDYCAR and WEC. This means McLaren, its partners and fans can challenge for the Triple Crown of Monaco GP, INDY500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans together – a unique cross-series story that sets us apart." Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Racing.
"This is an exciting moment in McLaren's history, and we are thrilled to launch this new journey through the Project: Endurance programme. The MCL-HY GTR will offer an FIA Hypercar experience, unprecedented in its accessibility, to track driving enthusiasts. Those who come with us on this journey will see and feel the absolute best of McLaren, and how our racing heritage is shaping our future more than ever." Nick Collins, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.
