McLaren has announced its intention to compete in the Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) from 2027. This news from the British racing team follows recent rumors of their interest in participating in the top tier of long-distance racing. McLaren has a history of success in prestigious races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. By participating in the WEC, the team is also pursuing a new Triple Crown.
“We’re back,” wrote CEO Zak Brown in an official press release on Thursday. The American didn’t need to add anything more; it’s clear that McLaren is returning to the WEC. The team will compete in the relatively new Hypercar class, aiming for the overall championship win and the coveted victory at Le Mans. Currently, the Brits are only active in the LMGT3 class, where the United Autosports team uses a homologated McLaren 720S.
Triple Crown
McLaren reportedly has no plans to build an entirely new hypercar for the WEC. Instead, a new LMDh vehicle will be manufactured based on an existing chassis. With McLaren’s entry, the number of manufacturers in the Hypercar class – introduced in 2021 – will increase. Currently, eight manufacturers are participating, including Ferrari, Alpine, and Aston Martin. From 2026, Hyundai, through its luxury brand Genesis, will also participate. Alongside McLaren, Ford also plans to join the grid in 2027.
McLaren is the only team to have ever won the Triple Crown of motorsport, consisting of a victory at Le Mans, the Indy 500, and the Monaco GP. As the team will be participating in the WEC, IndyCar, and Formula 1 simultaneously, it could theoretically win another Triple Crown in a single year.
