McLaren confirm latest driver to ambitious new motorsport project

Leonardo Fornaroli has been confirmed as a McLaren Hypercar Team driver for 2027, with the reigning Formula 2 champion set to contest the World Endurance Championship alongside his existing duties as McLaren's Formula 1 reserve driver.

The 21-year-old Italian has enjoyed a rapid rise through the single-seater ranks, claiming back-to-back Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in 2024 and 2025. Only four other drivers have managed that double, including McLaren's own Oscar Piastri.

That form earned Fornaroli a place on the McLaren driver development programme, through which he supported the McLaren F1 this year. 

He will now add a Hypercar programme to his workload, racing the MCL-HY in the WEC from 2027 alongside Mikkel Jensen, Alex Lynn and 2024 WEC Drivers' Champion Laurens Vanthoor.

Fornaroli will continue in his reserve role for the F1 team at the same time next year, making him one of several young talents McLaren has fast-tracked across its driver pipeline as the WEC continues to attract rising single-seater stars.

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Speaking after the announcement, Fornaroli said joining the Hypercar project was a major step in his career.

"Joining the McLaren Hypercar Team is an incredibly exciting next step in my career and I'm grateful that my role as McLaren Formula 1 Reserve Driver has opened up this incredible opportunity," said Fornaroli.

"I'm delighted to be continuing in that role next year while also taking on this new challenge. To represent McLaren in the FIA World Endurance Championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a huge honour, and I am ready to give everything as we take on this new challenge together."

"I'd like to thank the McLaren driver development programme for supporting me throughout my journey and for giving me the opportunity to develop my skills on such a competitive and prestigious stage."

McLaren Hypercar team principal James Barclay, who previously worked with Fornaroli in Jaguar Formula E, praised the Italian's rapid progress through the junior categories.

"Leo is an exceptional talent: winning Formula 3 is a significant achievement, but to follow that by winning Formula 2 as a rookie underlines his natural talent and one of the most exciting drivers in motorsport," said Barclay.

"His speed, consistency and maturity at such a young age helped him achieve a huge amount in the junior categories and those same attributes make him an exciting addition to our McLaren Hypercar Team. We have a great driver line-up forming, which blends experienced sports car drivers and now young talent for our debut season. 

"I worked with Leo briefly in my previous role and his approach and performance impressed me very much, we both look forward to taking on McLaren's debut season in the World Endurance Championship together."