McLaren Racing’s return to the pinnacle of endurance now has a name.  The future hypercar that will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including showcase event the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 2027 will be known as the McLaren MCL-HY. More than a simple code, it is a signature that identifies a direction and states a clear ambition: to reconnect with the Absolute.

MCL-HY – a legacy behind each letter

“MCL”: three letters that immediately strike a chord with Formula One fans. “HY”: two letters that instantly identify the car’s era – Hypercar, the summit of endurance racing since 2021. Together, they emphasise McLaren’s commitment to the FIA WEC.

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, nothing ever truly disappears. Each triumph leaves a mark; each car becomes a legend. Utter this new name and one cannot help but hear an echo of the iconic McLaren F1 GTR that made a winning début in 1995. A legendary lightning strike. The MCL-HY cannot erase the past but can aim to follow in its tracks.

James Barclay, Executive Director of McLaren Endurance Racing: “Taking the McLaren name back to the pinnacle of sportscar racing is a huge milestone and it’s a proud time for everyone within McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive to share the name of our new Hypercar that follows in the footsteps of an incredible lineage of McLaren racing cars. We are in a golden era of sportscar racing and the Hypercar category continues to be extremely successful – our new car name shows respect to that.”

All sights on 2027

The name is a foundation stone. On 4 May, McLaren will unveil the car and its test livery. However, the essentials are already laid. These five letters are a silent promise to return to Le Mans and its nocturnal magic, where headlights sear through the darkness – a moment suspended in time where everything becomes possible.

Le Mans is not just a race like no other, it’s a language too. And with the MCL-HY, McLaren has opted to speak it once more.