9 November 2026 15:00 (UTC)
"It will be an honour to represent McLaren on a global stage"
McLaren Racing has added its final full-time driver to the McLaren Hypercar Team. From 2027, rising star Malthe Jakobsen will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the McLaren MCL-HY.
The young Dane has emerged as one of endurance racing’s brightest young talents, building an impressive record of success from single-seaters to international prototype competition. Winning the Danish Formula 4 Championship, he then went on to secure the European Le Mans Series LMP3 title at just 18 years old – his speed, consistency, and technical ability propelled him rapidly through the ranks.
By the following season, Jakobsen’s standout performances had earned him a factory role with Peugeot Sport in WEC, establishing him as one of the most promising drivers of his generation with the potential to achieve major success at the highest level of the sport.
Despite being the youngest of the Peugeot Sport lineup, Jakobsen shone, taking Pole positions and podiums. This put him on the radar of the McLaren Hypercar Team’s Team Principal, James Barclay, who has signed him for McLaren’s return to the top class of sports car racing.
“I am super excited to join the team. It feels unbelievable to be part of this project and this brand, in particular as it competes across WEC, F1, and IndyCar in pursuit of the Triple Crown. This history of the team, including the Le Mans win in 1995, is so special and it will be an honour to represent McLaren on a global stage. James, Richard, and Zak have created an impressive team of drivers and staff, and I’m really looking forward to working with them all.”
“We are delighted to welcome Malthe to the McLaren Hypercar Team. He has already established himself as one of endurance racing’s most exciting young talents, combining impressive speed and consistency with the technical ability that is so important at the highest level of the sport. As we continue to build towards our WEC debut in 2027, Malthe is a fantastic addition to our driver lineup, and we look forward to seeing him race in the MCL-HY.”
