McLaren has revealed the hybrid-powered MCL-HY Hypercar for its 2027 FIA WEC return, alongside the track-only MCL-HY GTR, reviving its Le Mans ambitions and Triple Crown push.
1 / 8McLaren Returns: McLaren has unveiled the MCL-HY Hypercar, which will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class from 2027. The company also revealed the MCL-HY GTR, a track-only version developed alongside the race car. The programme marks McLaren’s return to the top category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as it targets motorsport’s Triple Crown alongside Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500.
2 / 8What Powers It: The MCL-HY race car is built to Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) regulations and uses a lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque chassis. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with a hybrid MGU system, sending up to 707hp to the rear wheels. McLaren says the car has a minimum weight of 1,030kg and has been engineered to combine performance with endurance-racing efficiency during long-distance competition.
3 / 8Testing Starts Soon: The car shown is a development prototype finished in a 2026 test livery inspired by the McLaren M6A. McLaren plans to begin on-track testing in May 2026 before the homologation scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027. The 2026 test programme includes works driver Mikkel Jensen, development drivers Gregoire Saucy and Richard Verschoor, and Ben Hanley from United Autosports.
4 / 8Track-Only Twist: Alongside the race car, McLaren introduced the MCL-HY GTR, a limited-run track-only derivative similar in concept to the Ferrari 499P Modificata. Unlike the hybrid-equipped race version, the GTR drops the MGU system and uses only a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine. McLaren says the setup produces about 730hp while reducing dry weight and simplifying ownership compared to the race-derived hybrid system.
5 / 8Inside Project Endurance: The MCL-HY GTR will be offered to a select group of customers through a programme called Project: Endurance. Buyers will receive behind-the-scenes access to McLaren Racing’s World Endurance Championship operations, including involvement in testing, development work and the build-up to the 2027 Le Mans campaign. McLaren says the programme is designed to give owners direct exposure to how its endurance-racing team operates throughout the project.
6 / 8More Than A Car: Ownership of the MCL-HY GTR also includes a two-year driving programme spread across six track events at international circuits. McLaren will provide professional coaching, a dedicated pit crew and full engineering support for every event. The programme will run on an arrive-and-drive basis, allowing owners to focus on driving while McLaren handles vehicle preparation, logistics and technical support during track sessions.
7 / 8First Joint Project: The MCL-HY GTR is the first track-focused collaboration between McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive. McLaren says the car has been positioned between a road car and a pure racing machine. The project combines McLaren Racing’s engineering and aerodynamic expertise with McLaren Automotive’s design input while also linking the company’s current endurance effort with its past Le Mans history.
8 / 8Deliveries From 2027: McLaren says customer deliveries of the MCL-HY GTR will begin toward the end of 2027, around the same time the MCL-HY race car makes its FIA World Endurance Championship debut at Le Mans. Company executives said the programme places McLaren in Formula 1, IndyCar and endurance racing at the same time, completing its effort to compete for victories in all three events that make up motorsport’s Triple Crown.
