McLaren’s WEC LMDh prototype breaks cover ahead of first test

Motorsport photo

McLaren has shared the first images of the MCL-HY prototype as it ramps up its preparations to enter the 2027 World Endurance Championship.

Having previously shown a mockup of the car at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours, McLaren took the covers off the bona fide LMDh challenger on Monday, just under a year before its planned debut.

The MCL-HY will run in testing in a special orange and black livery, inspired by the McLaren M6A that raced in the Group 7 era. Designed by company founder Bruce McLaren, it won multiple titles in the now-defunct Can-Am series, and Bruce also intended to take it to La Sarthe.

McLaren is set to begin testing the MCL-HY this month, with the team’s first signing and former Peugeot hypercar driver Mikkel Jensen leading the development of the car. McLaren development drivers Gregoire Saucy and Richard Verschoor, and United Autosports’ Ben Hanley will also be part of the test programme.

The MCL-HY project will mark McLaren’s first bid for an overall win at Le Mans since the F1 GTR claimed victory on its debut in 1995.

McLaren has largely focused on Formula 1 since the end of the F1 GTR’s lifespan, but it has rapidly expanded its participation in motorsport in recent years. Having also dabbled in Extreme E and Formula E, it will have a presence in three premier series next year: F1, IndyCar and the WEC.

“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, Indy500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans together – a unique cross-series story that sets us apart.”

McLaren MCL-HY