Three decades after the legendary McLaren F1 GTR stunned the motorsport world by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans on its debut in 1995, McLaren is officially returning to endurance racing’s top class. Meet the new McLaren MCL-HY — the British marque’s FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar contender that will compete from the 2027 season onwards.
Built to the ACO and IMSA’s LMDh regulations, the MCL-HY marks McLaren’s first full-fledged factory assault on modern endurance racing’s premier category. More importantly, it completes the final piece of McLaren’s ambitious Triple Crown challenge alongside Formula 1 and IndyCar.
A Hypercar Rooted In McLaren History
McLaren unveiled the MCL-HY in a striking launch livery inspired by the iconic McLaren M6A Can-Am racer. The design isn’t just for nostalgia either — it pays tribute to Bruce McLaren’s unrealised dream of taking the M6GT to Le Mans back in the 1960s.
Sports car racing has always been a significant part of McLaren’s DNA. From dominating the Can-Am championship during the late ’60s and early ’70s to the unforgettable Le Mans victory with the F1 GTR in 1995, the brand has consistently delivered iconic race cars. Now, the MCL-HY aims to write the next chapter.
Lightweight, Hybrid And Built For Endurance
The MCL-HY has been developed around the FIA Hypercar class’ LMDh regulations, combining a lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque with a hybrid-assisted twin-turbocharged V6 engine.
The powertrain produces up to 705bhp, which is the class-regulated limit of 520kW, and sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. McLaren says the car has been engineered to balance outright pace with long-distance efficiency — a crucial factor in endurance racing.
Despite the hybrid system onboard, the MCL-HY weighs just 1,030kg, making it one of the lighter contenders in the category. Aerodynamics have also played a massive role in development, with McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive collaborating closely to integrate the company’s signature design philosophy into the race car.
Testing for the MCL-HY begins in May 2026, with homologation scheduled ahead of the 2027 WEC season.
McLaren’s Driver Line-Up Takes Shape
McLaren has already announced an impressive driver pool for the development programme. Factory driver Mikkel Jensen will lead testing duties and will be joined by McLaren Driver Development Programme racers Gregoire Saucy and Richard Verschoor.
United Autosports driver Ben Hanley will also support development, bringing valuable endurance racing experience to the programme.
Meet The MCL-HY GTR: The Customer Track Weapon
Alongside the race car, McLaren has also revealed something even more outrageous — the MCL-HY GTR.
Developed in parallel with the Le Mans Hypercar, the MCL-HY GTR is a track-only machine for a select group of customers under McLaren’s new ‘Project: Endurance’ programme.
Unlike the actual race car, the GTR version ditches the FIA-mandated hybrid system entirely. Instead, it relies purely on a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged race engine producing approximately 730PS. Without the additional hybrid hardware, the GTR promises a lighter, more visceral driving experience aimed squarely at hardcore track enthusiasts.
But buying the car is only half the experience.
Owners will receive unprecedented access to McLaren’s endurance racing programme, including behind-the-scenes factory integration, testing access, professional driver coaching, dedicated race engineers and pit crew support. McLaren will also host a two-year, six-event track driving programme across some of the world’s best racing circuits.
Deliveries of the MCL-HY GTR are expected to begin towards the end of 2027.
