McLaren Racing has confirmed Mikkel Jensen as the first driver for its ambitious return to the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2027. The Danish driver admitted he felt “goosebumps” as he joined the iconic British marque’s Hypercar programme.
Thus, the announcement marks a significant milestone for McLaren’s endurance racing revival, as the team prepares to re-enter the premier prototype category for the first time in almost 30 years.
McLaren building new Hypercar team for 2027 WEC return with Jensen at helm
McLaren will compete under the banner of the McLaren United AS WEC Hypercar Team, a collaboration between McLaren Racing and the highly successful endurance outfit United Autosports.
Together, the two organisations will spend the next year developing McLaren’s new Hypercar ahead of its competitive debut in 2027. The partnership combines the technical expertise of engineers based at the McLaren Technology Centre with United Autosports’ proven experience in international sportscar racing.
Jensen will play a central role in the development phase as the programme gathers momentum.
Jensen’s rise through sportscar racing
Jensen began his professional racing career in 2017 and quickly established himself as one of endurance racing’s most promising talents. Early success in GT categories soon led to opportunities in prototype racing.
He claimed the LMP3 title in the European Le Mans Series in 2019 and followed that achievement with the LMP2 championship in the IMSA SportsCar Championship two years later.
His performances earned him a place in Peugeot Sport’s Hypercar programme in 2022. Since then, Jensen has reached the podium in the FIA World Endurance Championship every season from 2023 to 2025, including a second-place finish at Fuji Speedway last September.
Jensen expressed his excitement at joining the historic British manufacturer.
“I’m extremely proud to be joining the world championship-winning McLaren family and excited to be part of its Hypercar project from the early stages,” enthused the Aarhus native, who is currently competing for United Autosports in the Asian Le Mans Series and will travel to Daytona’s ‘Roar Before The Rolex 24’ test later this week ahead of IMSA’s 2026 curtain-raising outing at the Florida circuit.
“Stepping onto the boulevard at McLaren Technology Centre gives me goosebumps – it not only brings to life how much history McLaren has in Formula 1, but the 1995 Le Mans-winning F1 GTR reminds me that we have an incredible endurance story to continue.”
Continuing McLaren’s endurance legacy
McLaren’s endurance heritage remains one of the most remarkable stories in motorsport. In 1995, the company achieved a sensational debut victory at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with the McLaren F1 GTR.
That success contributed to McLaren becoming the only manufacturer to win motorsport’s celebrated Triple Crown — the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500.
Now, the brand aims to add another chapter to that legacy as it prepares to return to top-level endurance racing.
McLaren building a competitive Hypercar programme for 2027 WEC return with Jensen to feature
The Hypercar category continues to expand rapidly, with eight major global manufacturers already competing in the championship in 2026. Furthermore, Ford Motor Company plans to join the class the following year, promising one of the most competitive eras in endurance racing history.
James Barclay believes Jensen represents a crucial addition as the programme takes shape.
“Announcing Mikkel is another important milestone in the formation of our new Hypercar team,” Barclay commented. “He has already proven himself as one of the most well-rounded sportscar racing drivers in the world, and he brings with him a wealth of experience from the Hypercar category.
“We will enter the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans in what will arguably be the most competitive season of all time. We are delighted to have a driver of Mikkel’s calibre, experience and future potential. Like us, he is a true racer and is therefore a great fit with our philosophy on people and culture, which has been integral to McLaren Racing’s world championship-winning success in Formula 1. Our World Endurance Championship team is coming together nicely, and Mikkel is a fantastic addition.”
Hypercar reveal and innovative customer project
Looking ahead, McLaren plans to unveil its new Hypercar later this year. At the same time, the company has introduced an innovative initiative linked to the programme.
In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive, engineers have created a customer track version of the Hypercar known as Project: Endurance. The initiative uses the design flexibility allowed by FIA WEC technical regulations to offer a limited opportunity for customers to own and drive a machine closely related to a Le Mans Hypercar.
With development under way and Jensen already on board, McLaren’s return to endurance racing’s highest level has officially begun.
