“We’re Back”: McLaren return to Le Mans
McLaren CEO Zac Brown has ended years of speculation and suggestive teasing, confirming that the Papaya team will/have committed to an LMDh Hypercar program for the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027.
The work is already underway to return the Woking based team to the pinnacle of the Le Mans 24 hour, and Brown has been hinting at it for some time, whilst his early commitment to be at the 2025 event at Circuit de la Sarthe instead of the Canadian GP left no doubt.
That means McLaren’s LMDh ruleset Hypercar will become the 11th OEM by 2027, with Hyundai joining in 2026 with its Genesis brand, and Ford alongside McLaren in 2027. McLaren will also join Aston Martin as the second British outfit.
McLaren will join the rapidly growing hypercar grid by the 2027 Le Mans. Image LAT
This year is also the 30th celebration of McLaren’s incredible outright debut victory at the 1995 Le Mans (the wettest Le Mans on record) with its F1 GTR, a 6.1L V12 beast that lacked the pace, but handled beautifully in the given conditions, taking a one-three-four finish. The BMW engined F1 GTR would last until 1998.
The very brief press release to confirm the program read:
1995. Legendary Le Mans victory. Triple Crown glory.
Ready to make our mark on the world endurance stage once again.
Hypercar. 2027 World Endurance Championship.
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing said: ‘We’re Back.’
In celebrating the 30th anniversary at this year’s Le Mans, Brown will be attending a special exhibition in Le Mans which celebrates the 1995 victory, and as Lamborghini did, it could potentially unveil a prototype.
The Yannick Dalmas, Masanori Sekiya and J.J. Lehto McLaren F1 GTR makes a pitstop during the victorious 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo by LAT Images)
The 2027 entry is expected to be a French Dallara based chassis (LMDh ruleset allows a choice of four chassis builders) whilst the McLaren Artura – a hybrid supercar – is expected to be the architectural base for the engine design: a 120-degree twin-turbo V6.
As it stands, the 2027 WEC grid will be composed of Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, Alpine, Peugeot, Cadillac, BMW, Aston Martin, McLaren, Hyundai, Ford – whilst Acura (Honda) is expected to eventually make the leap from IMSA for Le Mans, with Lamborghini also a chance to return after committing to an IMSA only program in 2025.
Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE
Read the new issue of Auto Action Digital HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
