► McLaren coming to the Hypercar class in 2027
► Will use Dallara chassis and V6 hybrid
► Team principal will be James Barclay
McLaren has already revealed new plans to enter the top class of the WEC but now it’s also revealed a road-going version of the car it’ll compete with. Called Project: Endurance, it’s an LMDh Hypercar based on the racecar McLaren will use in the 2027 WEC championship.
It’ll be more than just a car though: McLaren says the Project: Endurance project will exclusive track days and experiences but also integrate customers into the racing team’s efforts as it looks to win Le Mans and the triple crown in a single year.
‘McLaren Racing’s return to the FIA World Endurance Championship marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for us,’ said McLaren Racing’s CEO Zak Brown. ‘We have a rich history in the sport together with McLaren Automotive, having raced and won on our first attempt at Le Mans in 1995. This customer programme will offer buyers an incredible chance to own an authentic race car and get closer to the action on track.
Wait, what racing project?
McLaren already races in the GT series with a 720 S, but earlier this week, the team it’ll be partnering with United Autosports (co-owned by Zak Brown) to come back to the top class of prototype endurance racing. Details are thin on the ground, but we know the racecar will compete with the LMDh rules like Porsche – rather than the bespoke Hypercar rules Peugeot and Ferrari adhere to.
McLaren will also be using a Dallara chassis, and will pair it with a twin-turbocharged V6 with hybrid assistance. CAR understands it’ll be based on that currently in the Artura.
The team’s driver line up has yet to be announced, but McLaren’s endurance team already has a flagship signing: ex-Jaguar Formula E team principal James Barclay.
We’ll update this story when we know more.