McLaren unveil new racing car as rare pursuit of exclusive honour begins again

McLaren has revealed the MCL-HY FIA Hypercar that will spearhead the British team's return to the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027.

The move to WEC marks the next chapter in the team's storied history after nearly three decades away from endurance racing's top tier.

The car, displayed in a striking 2026 test livery inspired by the McLaren M6A that dominated Can-Am racing in the late 1960s, represents McLaren's ambition to complete the final piece of motorsport's Triple Crown, encompassing victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Notably, McLaren remains the only constructor to have achieved victories across all three prestigious events.

The McLaren Hypercar Team, operated in partnership with United Autosports, will enter two MCL-HY prototypes and begin testing in May 2026.

The works driver lineup features Mikkel Jensen, supported by McLaren Driver Development Programme drivers Gregoire Saucy and Richard Verschoor, alongside United Autosports driver Ben Hanley, who brings valuable development experience to the ambitious project.

"Years and months in the making and here we are, revealing the MCL-HY to the world," said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.

"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."

McLaren's endurance racing heritage includes its famous 1995 Le Mans victory on debut, achieved with drivers Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya.

This 2027 return follows the FIA's extension of Hypercar regulations through at least 2029, providing manufacturer confidence alongside recent programme announcements from Ford and Genesis.

James Barclay, executive director of McLaren Endurance Racing and team principal of McLaren Hypercar Team, added: "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..."