Laurens Vanthoor will race for McLaren’s new Hypercar team in the 2027 World Endurance Championship while remaining under contract with Porsche through the end of that season.
The Belgian was named as the second driver for the McLaren MCL-HY project on Friday, just days after its first signing Mikkel Jensen shook down the car for the first time in Italy.
The deal will ensure Vanthoor will return to the WEC next year after Porsche’s decision to scale down its 963 LMDh programme left him without a seat at the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time since 2017.
Vanthoor will combine his newly announced WEC duties with a reduced involvement in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, contesting only the Michelin Endurance Cup rounds as a third driver for Porsche Penske Motorsport.
A statement from McLaren said that Vanthoor’s tenure with Porsche will “conclude” after 2027, the final year of his contract, potentially opening the door for a full-time move elsewhere beyond that point.
“I’ve been fortunate to be in the right position to win many major sports car races, but I’ve made no secret that, in recent years, everything I do is geared towards an overall win at Le Mans. I’m not even joking when I say it keeps me awake at night,” said 2024 Hypercar champion Vanthoor.
“We came so close last year and, when the Porsche Penske Motorsport WEC programme ended, I had to consider which team on the grid could give me the best chance of winning.
“For me, the choice was clearly McLaren Racing. They are at the top of their game in Formula 1 and IndyCar, and I believe the same will be true in WEC. They are as obsessed with winning as I am and, together, we’ll do what it takes.
“I’d also like to thank everyone at Porsche for an incredible decade of racing, I am fully committed to finishing our journey together with more trophies, and I am grateful for your support in helping me to chase my dream.”
McLaren MCL-HY
Photo by: McLaren
The MCL-HY project marks McLaren’s most high-profile foray into sportscar racing since the F1 GT3 beat purpose-built prototypes to win Le Mans on its debut in 1995.
The British brand has teamed up with United Autosports to run the two factory entries, while Dallara has been chosen as the official chassis supplier.
Vanthoor will play an integral role in the development of the twin-turbo V6-powered LMDh racer this year, while fighting for the overall GTP title with Porsche in IMSA.
“Firstly, I would like to welcome Laurens to McLaren Racing. His experience, speed and sportscar racing skillset is an asset to our new McLaren Hypercar team,” said McLaren team boss James Barclay.
“When we first started speaking it was incredibly clear how committed and focused he is to be successful at Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship. This hunger and commitment along with his sportscar racing experience makes him a great fit for our new team.
“I also know and have seen how much it means for him to join McLaren after a fantastic career with Porsche. We must thank Porsche for enabling Laurens to be part of our test programme in 2026. In Laurens, they have helped develop one of the greatest sportscar drivers in the world, and we’re delighted that the opportunity arose to bring him into the McLaren Hypercar Team.”
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