McLaren MCL-HY Hypercar breaks cover

McLaren Racing has shown off the look of its MCL-HY Hypercar, which it will debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship's top class and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027.

The MCL-HY was first revealed to the public in show-car form at Le Mans last June in the fan village. Since then, the aerodynamics of the car have been revised significantly, with the front end in particular featuring more significant McLaren styling cues.

The MCL-HY, which will be operated by United Autosports in the WEC, will begin track testing this month, with a program that will also support the simultaneous development of the customer track day variant, the MCL-HY GTR. The track-only car, of which 30-35 are set to be built for VIP clients, was also shown off in imagery today.

The key difference between the MCL-HY and MCL-HY GTR is that the track-day version will be powered only by the 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, without the spec LMDh hybrid system fitted, with a focus on drivability.

The car has been revealed in its 2026 testing livery inspired by the McLaren M6A. The test program is set to be led by Mikkel Jensen, who was announced as McLaren's first Hypercar driver earlier this year.

Jensen will be supported in the development process by a trio of European Le Mans Series LMP2 drivers: Gregoire Saucy, Richard Verschoor and Ben Hanley, with the former pair both also part of the McLaren Driver Development Program.

“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 race 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 of Monaco GP, Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans together – a unique cross-series story that sets us apart.”

James Barclay, McLaren's Hypercar team principal, added: “The reveal of the MCL-HY sets the scene for the next chapter of McLaren’s return to the top level of sports car racing.

"From the test livery that reflects and respects our 1960s Can-Am roots; to our new hybrid-powered Hypercar that has been designed and is being developed by our world-class team to take on this exciting and highly competitive era of sports car racing; through to the track car program that, like the 1995 McLaren F1 GTR, brings our customers back to the driving seat of our outright Le Mans challenger. It represents the start of our journey ahead.”