McLaren has revealed the MCL-HY, the Hypercar LMDh with which it will return to the WEC in 2027 and seek to win Le Mans for the second time in its history. The car combines a Dallara chassis with a 2.9-liter biturbo V6 engine developed by ATM based on the Artura architecture, plus the Bosch hybrid system required by LMDh regulations for all competitors. United Autosports will operate the program on track, leveraging its years of experience competing in the WEC with LMP2 prototypes, although the Hypercar class implies another scale of technical and logistical complexity.

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The MCL-HY configuration delivers 697 horsepower when the hybrid is active, with a minimum weight of 1,030 kilograms as established by the regulations. McLaren chose a test livery inspired by the M6A, the Can-Am car that Bruce McLaren planned to take to La Sarthe as the M6GT in the late 1960s, before the project was cancelled. The first tests begin this month at Varano de' Melegari, the circuit where Dallara is based in northern Italy and where it typically develops its chassis before delivering them to teams.

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Mikkel Jensen will drive during the development program that runs through 2026, joined by Richard Verschoor and Gregoire Saucy, both drivers from McLaren's program who compete in the European Le Mans Series this year, plus Ben Hanley, who regularly races with United Autosports. The full lineup for the 2027 season has not yet been confirmed because, as Zak Brown explained last month, they prefer to wait for the driver market to stabilize before announcing the final names.

In parallel, McLaren has created the MCL-HY GTR, a customer version that removes the hybrid system and generates 720 horsepower relying solely on the combustion engine. Removing the MGU reduces weight and simplifies track day operation, which according to McLaren delivers a purer experience without the complexity of the electric system. The program includes two years with six events at international circuits, access to the WEC team, professional coaching, and full engineering support, with deliveries scheduled for late 2027.

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The program puts McLaren in a position to pursue the Triple Crown of motorsport, which requires winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They already have a presence in Formula 1 and IndyCar, so the MCL-HY completes the third front needed to attempt the triple that has only been achieved by Graham Hill as a driver and by McLaren as a constructor in 1995, when the F1 GTR won Le Mans in its first attempt.