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McLaren Eyes Return to Le Mans with Potential Announcement
McLaren is poised to reveal its ambitions for a return to the Le Mans 24 Hours with aspirations for overall victory. During a recent visit to the inaugural round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in Qatar, Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, hinted at the possibility of an announcement coinciding with the 30th anniversary celebration of the brand’s victory at Le Mans with the F1 GTR in 1995.
Brown emphasized the significance of sportscar racing for McLaren, marking his commitment to attending the upcoming Le Mans WEC round in June. He stated that his priority will be participating in this event rather than the concurrent Formula 1 race in Canada. “That’s a priority for us,” he mentioned, noting there will be a notable display at the Le Mans museum, teasing that there might be exciting news to share.
The dialogue about McLaren’s return to top-tier endurance racing follows Brown’s statement last year at Le Mans, where he indicated that it was a matter of “when” rather than “if” regarding a potential prototype program. “It is pretty clear that we would like to do it; we would love to be going for the overall win at Le Mans,” he remarked during his Qatar visit, citing that the timing has never been more favorable.
Brown’s remarks coincide with a flourishing period for McLaren, highlighted by the success of the Formula 1 team, which claimed the constructors’ title in the previous season, alongside a strong performance by the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team, which has achieved three wins in 2024. Additionally, the recent acquisition of McLaren Automotive by Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings presents an opportune moment for the brand to expand its involvement in motorsport.
The anticipation surrounding McLaren’s entry into the hypercar category of sportscar racing has been building over recent years. The company’s involvement in the development of the Le Mans Hypercar regulations underscores its long-standing interest in this arena. With the announcement of the second pathway into the WEC’s Hypercar class, McLaren has openly expressed its intent to create an LMDh program.
Reports suggest that McLaren has reached significant milestones concerning its LMDh program, potentially even finalizing its approval. The partnership with Dallara Automobili for chassis development is expected, and the power unit is likely to be based on the 120-degree twin-turbo V6 engine currently utilized in both the road and race versions of the Artura model, which debuted in 2022. This strategic choice addresses previous challenges related to the V8 turbo engine that had hampered earlier prototype endeavors.
The way forward for McLaren is becoming increasingly clear, particularly following the decision by the FIA and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to extend the limitations of the current ruleset through to the end of 2029. If McLaren officially commits to the LMDh project this summer, a 2027 entry into the competition seems feasible, allowing the team at least three seasons to develop and optimize the vehicle.
The legacy of the Kokusai Kaihatsu McLaren F1 GTR, which triumphed at Le Mans in 1995, remains alive, as the victorious car is currently showcased at the track’s museum on a six-month loan.
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