8 May 2026 09:00 (UTC)
"They are as obsessed with winning as I am and, together, we’ll do what it takes"
McLaren Racing has announced that the 2024 FIA Hypercar World Endurance Drivers’ Champion Laurens Vanthoor will join the McLaren Hypercar Team for its return to top tier sports car racing.
The announcement comes just days after the reveal and rollout of the McLaren MCL-HY that will begin its 2026 test programme later this month. Vanthoor (34) joins fellow World Endurance Championship alumnus Mikkel Jensen (31) as the first two drivers signed to the brand-new programme, which will race competitively from 2027.
During the past three seasons, Vanthoor has established himself as one of the standout drivers of the Hypercar era, scoring three wins and five podiums, and setting the standard in fast-paced race craft. After taking the Drivers’ Championship in 2024, he finished second overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025 after a flawless performance from Green to Chequered Flag, meaning the iconic race still remains the one major title missing from his illustrious career.
The Belgian, who claimed multiple titles and race victories during a decade-long career with Porsche, will continue his 2026 IMSA full-season campaign with the German marque. He will conclude his tenure with Porsche with a reduced IMSA endurance programme in 2027, running alongside his full McLaren Hypercar World Endurance Championship campaign.
“I’ve been fortunate to be in the right position to win many major sports car races, but I’ve made no secret that, in recent years, everything I do is geared towards an overall win at Le Mans. I’m not even joking when I say it keeps me awake at night. We came so close last year and, when the Porsche Penske Motorsport WEC programme ended, I had to consider which team on the grid could give me the best chance of winning.
“For me, the choice was clearly McLaren Racing. They are at the top of their game in Formula 1 and INDYCAR, and I believe the same will be true in WEC. They are as obsessed with winning as I am and, together, we’ll do what it takes. I’d also like to thank everyone at Porsche for an incredible decade of racing, I am fully committed to finishing our journey together with more trophies, and I am grateful for your support in helping me to chase my dream.”
“Firstly, I would like to welcome Laurens to McLaren Racing. His experience, speed and sportscar racing skillset is an asset to our new McLaren Hypercar Team. When we first started speaking, it was incredibly clear how committed and focused he is to be successful at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship. This hunger and commitment along with his sportscar racing experience makes him a great fit for our new team. I also know and have seen how much it means for him to join McLaren after a fantastic career with Porsche. We must thank Porsche for enabling Laurens to be part of our test programme in 2026. In Laurens, they have helped develop one of the greatest sportscar drivers in the world, and we’re delighted that the opportunity arose to bring him into the McLaren Hypercar Team.”
The McLaren Hypercar Team will contest the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship with the support of United Autosports, the highly decorated sportscar racing outfit, which steps up into Hypercar category with McLaren to combine the expertise of both successful organisations.
