McLaren MCL-HY Hypercar Revealed for 2027 WEC; Private GTR Track Car Version also Confirmed

McLaren has taken the covers off its MCL-HY LMDh race car, and this one feels like a serious step towards its return to the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027. We had seen a show version earlier at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025, but this is now the proper race-ready car. Alongside it, McLaren has also confirmed a track-only version called the MCL-HY GTR, built with McLaren Automotive.

The MCL-HY sits on a Dallara chassis and uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 with a standard hybrid system. Power goes up to 697bhp, depending on Balance of Performance. For testing, the car runs colours inspired by the McLaren M6A, a machine created by Bruce McLaren, which connects this project to the brand’s early racing days.

This also marks McLaren’s return to fighting for an overall win at Le Mans since the McLaren F1 GTR won back in 1995. The focus right now is on getting the car ready through proper testing and development. Everything from performance to reliability will be worked on before the car finally lines up on the grid in the coming seasons.

Testing is set to begin this month, with Mikkel Jensen leading the programme. He will be joined by Gregoire Saucy, Richard Verschoor and Ben Hanley. The team plans to complete homologation by late 2026 or early 2027, giving enough time to sort things out before racing begins.

McLaren MCL-HY GTR

The MCL-HY GTR is the version meant for track use, and it keeps things simpler. It drops the hybrid system and instead runs a 2.9-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine with around 720bhp. Without the hybrid setup, the car is lighter and easier to manage, which should make it feel more direct and engaging when driven on a circuit.

Buyers of the MCL-HY GTR will also get access to McLaren’s Project: Endurance programme. This includes time with the team, test sessions and even access to the 2027 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There is also a two-year track programme with coaching, pit crew support and full engineering backup included.

Also Read: F1: Max Verstappen’s Race Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to Join McLaren in 2028

Deliveries of the MCL-HY GTR are expected to begin towards the end of 2027. With this move, McLaren will be active across Formula 1, IndyCar and endurance racing. The LMGT3 effort will continue with Garage 59, as the brand builds a wider motorsport presence.