- The MCL-HY FIA Hypercar is McLaren’s new Le Mans racer for 2027.
- It’s joined by the MCL-HY GTR track car reserved for McLaren’s wealthiest buyers.
- Lighter and more powerful, the GTR skips the hybrid setup for a V6-only powertrain.
The adage holds true: good things do come in pairs. McLaren’s new MCL-HY endurance racer, developed to compete in the FIA WEC Hypercar class from 2027, has spawned a derivative that wealthy customers can actually buy. While it still lacks a license plate since the MCL-HY GTR is positioned as a track-only car, it’s not a carbon copy of its Le Mans-ready counterpart.
The version offered exclusively to “VIP McLaren clients” drops the hybrid component of the powertrain, as it no longer needs to comply with LMDh regulations. Instead, it uses a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 capable of delivering around 720 horsepower. Eliminating the Motor Generator Unit (MGU) system has allowed engineers to shave off additional weight from the race car, which must adhere to a minimum curb weight of 2,270 pounds (1,030 kilograms). Consequently, the GTR should easily dip below the 2,204-pound (1,000-kilogram) mark.
Not only is the GTR lighter, but it’s also more powerful, even without electric assistance. McLaren claims the MCL-HY FIA Hypercar delivers up to 697 hp to the rear wheels from its combustion engine and hybrid MGU setup. Ferrari’s 499P Modificata also outpunches its WEC counterpart, though it retains the front-mounted electric motor.
Photo by: McLaren
Interestingly, we’re told the GTR stems from a “first-of-its-kind collaboration” between the racing and automotive divisions of McLaren. Both versions were developed concurrently on a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis. The next step is to kick off track testing of the Hypercar-spec version this month, ahead of its racing debut in 2027. Deliveries of the GTR customer cars will begin by the end of next year.
Those who can afford the GTR also gain access to a two-year, six-event track driving program on international circuits, where McLaren will provide a pit crew and professional driver coaching. Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but it’s safe to assume it commands a hefty premium over the W1, which starts at $2.1 million before options.
While the W1 remains the king of the hill among McLarens with a license plate, the MCL-HY GTR is the ultimate performance machine from Woking. It’s aimed at deep-pocketed customers willing to sacrifice road-legal status to experience a vehicle’s full potential.
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Source: McLaren
Motor1’s Take: Freed from the constraints of road or race car regulations, the GTR is essentially an uncorked version, unbound by technical limitations. Even with “just” a V6, over 700 horsepower in a car lighter than a Miata sounds as thrilling as it is intimidating. Think of it as a no-rules hypercar that turns everything up to 11.
We’re already wondering whether companies specializing in road-legal conversions, such as Lanzante, will modify the GTR and make it eligible for a license plate.
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