McLaren Racing has confirmed Malthe Jakobsen as the sixth and final driver for its 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar programme. The 23-year-old Dane will join the British manufacturer following four years with Peugeot Sport, completing the driver line-up for McLaren’s return to top-class endurance racing.
Jakobsen will reunite with former Peugeot teammate Mikkel Jensen and join Laurens Vanthoor, Alex Lynn, Leonardo Fornaroli and Grégoire Saucy in the new McLaren MCL-HY. The manufacturer will field two Hypercars in 2027 as it targets a return to overall contention at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time since its historic victory in 1995.
His arrival follows a successful period with Peugeot, during which he established himself as a competitive Hypercar driver and secured the manufacturer’s first WEC pole position at Spa-Francorchamps in 2026.
Jakobsen joins McLaren following successful Peugeot spell
Jakobsen’s departure from Peugeot brings an end to a four-year association that began with his participation in the 2022 WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain. The Danish driver subsequently joined the manufacturer’s development programme before earning a full-time Hypercar race seat for 2025.
Despite being the youngest member of Peugeot’s driver line-up, Jakobsen demonstrated impressive pace throughout his time with the French manufacturer. He secured a podium at Circuit of The Americas in 2025 before claiming Peugeot’s first Hypercar pole position at the 2026 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
His final appearance with Peugeot also produced a strong result, as he joined Loïc Duval and Théo Pourchaire to secure a season-best fourth place at the 2026 WEC 6 Hours of Monza.
Before competing in Hypercar, Jakobsen established himself in junior single-seaters and prototype racing. He won the Danish Formula 4 Championship in 2019 before securing the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP3 title at just 18 years old.
He subsequently claimed three Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 titles, including the 2026 championship, alongside the ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am title. These achievements further strengthened his reputation ahead of his move to McLaren.
Jakobsen excited to join McLaren’s ambitious Hypercar project
Jakobsen welcomed his move to McLaren, highlighting the manufacturer’s history and its involvement across Formula 1, IndyCar and endurance racing.
“I’m super-excited!” enthused Jakobsen. “It feels unbelievable to be part of this project and this brand, in particular as McLaren competes across FIA WEC, Formula 1 and IndyCar in pursuit of the ‘Triple Crown’.
“That history, including the Le Mans win in 1995, is so special and it will be an honour to represent McLaren on the global stage. James [Barclay – Team Principal], Richard [Dean – CEO of team partner, United Autosports] and Zak [Brown – McLaren Racing CEO] have created an impressive team of drivers and staff, and I’m really looking forward to working with them all.
“I had four phenomenal years with Peugeot. They made me feel part of the family from day one at the Rookie Test in Bahrain and have been a huge part of my growth as a person and as a racing driver. This has been an unforgettable chapter of my career.”
The Danish driver will now prepare for his first season with McLaren as the manufacturer continues developing its MCL-HY ahead of the 2027 campaign.
McLaren completes six-driver line-up for 2027 WEC debut
Jakobsen’s arrival completes McLaren’s six-driver roster, combining experienced Hypercar competitors with emerging talents from single-seater and prototype racing.
His former Peugeot teammate Jensen became the first driver to join the programme, bringing experience from the French manufacturer’s 9X8 project. McLaren subsequently signed 2024 WEC Hypercar champion Vanthoor and former Cadillac driver Lynn, strengthening its line-up with established endurance racing talent.
The manufacturer also recruited reigning FIA Formula 2 champion Fornaroli before promoting Saucy into its 2027 race line-up following the Swiss driver’s success in the 2026 ELMS LMP2 Championship and his involvement in developing the MCL-HY.
McLaren has therefore confirmed all six full-time drivers for its two-car programme, although it has yet to announce how it will divide them between the entries.
McLaren Hypercar Team Principal James Barclay welcomed Jakobsen’s arrival, highlighting the experience and technical ability he will bring to the new programme.
“We’re delighted to welcome Malthe to McLaren Hypercar Team,” added Barclay. “He has already established himself as one of endurance racing’s most exciting young talents, combining impressive speed and consistency with the technical ability that is so important at the highest level of the sport.
“As we continue to build towards our FIA WEC debut in 2027, Malthe is a fantastic addition to our driver line-up and we look forward to seeing him race in the MCL-HY.”
Peugeot pays tribute to Jakobsen following four-year partnership
Peugeot also acknowledged Jakobsen’s contribution to its Hypercar programme following his departure. The manufacturer played an important role in his progression from junior prototype racing to the highest level of international endurance competition.
Team Principal Emmanuel Esnault praised the Danish driver’s commitment and performances throughout his time with the team.
“Everyone in the team has truly appreciated Malthe’s enthusiasm, commitment and, of course, his performances on-track,” commented Team Principal, Emmanuel Esnault. “A heartfelt ‘thank you’! The entire team wishes him all the best for the future.”
Stellantis Motorsport Director Olivier Jansonnie also reflected on Jakobsen’s development, emphasising the progress he made both as a driver and as a member of the organisation.
“We are very proud of everything Malthe has achieved with us and the progress he has made along the way,” echoed Stellantis Motorsport Director, Olivier Jansonnie. “It has been a privilege to see him grow as a driver and as a member of the team. We sincerely thank him for his commitment, his hard work and everything he has brought to us, and we wish him every success for what comes next.”
Jakobsen’s departure concludes an important chapter in his career, while Peugeot continues preparing its driver line-up for the 2027 championship.
McLaren prepares for historic return to Le Mans
With its six-driver line-up complete, McLaren will continue developing the MCL-HY ahead of its competitive debut in 2027. The manufacturer will compete in partnership with United Autosports, combining the British marque’s technical resources with the team’s experience in international prototype racing.
The new programme marks McLaren’s return to the top class at Le Mans, where the manufacturer secured an overall victory with the F1 GTR in 1995. The MCL-HY will now provide an opportunity to compete for another outright victory against established Hypercar manufacturers.
Jakobsen’s experience developing and racing the Peugeot 9X8 will provide valuable knowledge as McLaren prepares for the challenges of its debut campaign. Having already demonstrated his abilities in Hypercar machinery, the Dane will aim to contribute to the manufacturer’s development while pursuing further success in the WEC.
With Jakobsen completing the roster, McLaren can now focus on finalising its preparations and driver combinations ahead of its return to the championship in 2027.
