4 May 2026 09:00 (UTC)
"McLaren Racing now has three race cars ready to contest the biggest motorsport series in the world"
McLaren today reveals 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, and the foundation for an exclusive track car derivative, the MCL-HY GTR, currently being offered to VIP McLaren clients through the Project: Endurance programme. The revealed car – that will be developed throughout a rigorous test programme in 2026 ahead of homologation in the winter – was presented in a striking 2026 test livery inspired by the McLaren M6A. This was the car Bruce McLaren once dreamed of taking to La Sarthe as the M6GT, positioning MCL-HY as a declaration of intent rooted in heritage. Sports car racing is woven into McLaren's DNA, from its dominance of Can-Am during the late 1960s and early 1970s, to the legendary triumph at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans with the McLaren F1 GTR. McLaren's return to racing in the premier class at Le Mans also marks the beginning of a challenge to once again take the Triple Crown of motorsport, encompassing victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With McLaren already competing at the pinnacle of Formula 1 and the NTT IndyCar Series, the MCL-HY completes the final piece of an ambition that McLaren is uniquely placed to contend for. The McLaren Hypercar Team will commence on-track testing of the MCL-HY in May 2026, a programme that will 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 be supported by McLaren Driver Development Programme (DDP) drivers Gregoire Saucy and Richard Verschoor. In addition, United Autosports driver Ben Hanley will bring his valuable development experience to the team. Built to the ACO / IMSA LMDh regulations, the MCL-HY combines lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis construction with exceptional balance. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged V6 race engine paired with a hybrid MGU system, delivering up to 520kW (707PS) to the driven rear axle. With a minimum weight of 1,030kg and a highly efficient power-to-weight ratio, the MCL HY has been developed to balance outright performance with endurance racing efficiency, designed to operate at the very highest level of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the demanding 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren’s FIA Hypercar has been shaped by a tightly integrated collaboration applying world-class engineering and aerodynamics capability from McLaren Racing and drawing on the design expertise of McLaren Automotive, to integrate McLaren’s design DNA. Furthermore, the MCL-HY GTR track car variant represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive. Engineered in parallel with the race car, the track car variant has been deliberately developed without the FIA Hypercar's mandated LMDh hybrid system and is powered purely by the 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged racing engine, resulting in a lower dry weight while also developing circa 730PS. This decision ensures that clients benefit from a purer driving experience on track days; one that delivers authentic Hypercar performance and feel without additional complexity, and 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 offering 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. Inclusive of this, MCL-HY GTR owners will also take part in a two-year, six-event track driving programme curated across premier international circuits, which includes opportunities to drive their car on PURE McLaren track events. Each client will benefit from professional driver coaching, a dedicated pit crew and race engineering support, participating on a fully inclusive arrive-and-drive basis. Deliveries of the McLaren MCL-HY GTR track car are to 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.”
“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.”
“The reveal of the MCL-HY sets the scene for the next chapter of McLaren’s return to the top level of sports car racing: from the test livery that reflects and respects our 1960s Can-Am roots; to our new hybrid-powered Hypercar that has been designed and is being developed by our world-class team to take on this exciting and highly competitive era of sports car racing; through to the track car programme that, like the 1995 McLaren F1 GTR, brings our customers back to the driving seat of our outright Le Mans challenger. It represents the start of our journey ahead.”
