McLaren Unveils New Le Mans 24h Racer for 2027 Debut
=====================================================
McLaren has taken the wraps off its new, as-yet-unnamed, race car that will compete in the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans. The papaya-orange car was unveiled by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown in Le Mans, ahead of this year’s event.
The new car marks McLaren’s return to the top-tier Hypercar class at Le Mans, a move that comes 30 years after the company’s impressive debut in the event. In 1995, McLaren entered the Le Mans 24 Hours as a novice team and secured a stunning 1-3-4-5 finish with its GTR version of the McLaren F1 road car. This achievement handed McLaren the ‘Triple Crown’ of motorsport, comprising wins at the Monaco GP, the Indy 500, and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
According to Zak Brown, the decision to unveil the new car now is significant. “2025 marks the 30th anniversary since McLaren rocked up at the Le Mans 24 Hours as a novice team, and took home a 1-3-4-5 finish on its debut,” he said. The new car’s design and engineering are a nod to McLaren’s rich history in motorsport, while also embracing the latest technological advancements.
McLaren’s entry into the Hypercar class comes at a time when several established manufacturers, including BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, and Toyota, have already been competing for a few years. Newcomers like Alpine, Aston Martin, and Lamborghini have also joined the fray, while Genesis and Ford are set to make their debuts in the near future.
However, McLaren’s involvement has been made possible by the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) and the FIA’s decision to extend the Hypercar regulations until the end of 2032. This ensures that McLaren will have at least six years to compete with its new car, potentially putting it on a level playing field with its more established rivals.
To ensure the success of its Le Mans program, McLaren will partner with United Autosports, a team co-owned by Zak Brown. United Autosports has previously won the LMP2 class at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship.
The new McLaren car will compete under the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) regulations, which involve using a combination of off-the-shelf parts and bespoke components. The car will feature a Dallara-supplied carbonfibre monocoque chassis and a twin-turbo V6 engine, whose capacity and power output are yet to be revealed.
According to Top Gear, the engine will produce 671bhp, as mandated by the regulations. The goal is to find the most efficient way to achieve this power output.
While the new car’s engine is unlikely to be based on the McLaren Artura’s 120-degree V6, McLaren Automotive will collaborate with McLaren Racing to develop the new V6 engine.
As McLaren prepares for its busy schedule, which includes the World Endurance Championship, IndyCar, and Formula 1, Top Gear asked Zak Brown if McLaren’s F1 drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, might get a chance to drive the Le Mans car. Brown replied, “Lando and Oscar have both given strong hints they’d like to do Le Mans one of these days, but I think right now they’re laser-focused on the Formula 1 world championship.”
The opportunity for Norris and Piastri to compete at Le Mans may arise in the future, but for now, the focus is on preparing the new McLaren car for its 2027 debut.
Original Source: Top Gear – McLaren’s new Le Mans 24h racer
Source link
