McLaren has revealed the MCL-HY as the machine it will use to challenge the likes of Ferrari, Cadillac, Porsche and BMW for Le Mans glory, ahead of the marque’s return to top-class endurance racing in 2027.
The 2027 campaign will end McLaren’s near-30-year absence from the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The Woking-based manufacturer’s last Le Mans appearance was with the McLaren F1 GTR in 1998, where the Gulf-liveried number 40 car of Tim Sugden, Bill Auberlen and Steve O’Rourke finished fourth overall. Three years earlier, the F1 GTR famously took victory at La Sarthe.
McLaren aims to continue that success with the MCL-HY, which made its public debut with a shakedown at Italy’s Varano circuit, located near the headquarters of LMDh chassis partner Dallara. Images were released just one hour later, and its striking test livery is said to be inspired by the McLaren M6A – the dominant Can-Am racer Bruce McLaren dreamt of racing at Le Mans as the M6GT.
The MCL-HY is powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine coupled with a hybrid MGU (Motor Generator Unit) system that delivers around 700bhp to the rear wheels. Built to LMDh regulations, the MCL-HY is underpinned by a Dallara-built carbonfibre monocoque and weighs 1030kg.
The MCL-HY is the third component of McLaren’s ambitious attempt to secure motor racing’s ‘Triple Crown’. With the team already competing in IndyCar and Formula 1, McLaren is aiming to secure victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. McLaren is the only constructor currently competing in all three series and is the only one to have already won all three – although never in the same year.
MCL-HY testing will be led by works driver Mikkel Jensen and supported by McLaren Driver Development Programme members Gregoire Saucy and Richard Verschoor, alongside United Autosports driver Ben Hanley. The test programme begins this month at Varano and homologation is to be completed in the winter ahead of McLaren’s 2027 WEC debut.
‘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 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 together.’
McLaren has also unveiled the MCL-HY GTR – an exclusive track day version of the WEC machine. This track-only variant does away with the hybrid system entirely, running purely on the 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6, resulting in a lighter, simpler car that develops around 720bhp.
MCL-HY GTR ownership comes as part of McLaren’s Project: Endurance programme, which offers customers exclusive access to the WEC operation, including testing and the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans. GTR owners will also take part in a two-year, six-event track driving programme staged across major international circuits, with professional driver coaching, a dedicated pit crew and race engineering included. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2027. The car is being offered to select clients and pricing has not been disclosed.
For more information, click here.
