News summary
- McLaren is considering borrowing a driver from IndyCar or Formula 1 for the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Scott Dixon and Lando Norris among the potential options.
- Dixon will join Arrow McLaren in IndyCar in 2027, while Norris is under contract with McLaren in F1 through at least 2030.
- McLaren has already confirmed Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor for its WEC program, with additional seats still to be filled.
McLaren is already preparing for its 2027 debut in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, but the British manufacturer is also thinking ahead to the biggest race on the calendar: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
According to Sportscar365, McLaren is considering bringing in a driver from either IndyCar or Formula 1 for the 2027 edition of the French endurance classic. Two of the most obvious possibilities are Scott Dixon and Lando Norris, who would give the new MCL-HY program an especially high-profile lineup.
Dixon already has a path to Le Mans
Dixon’s situation appears particularly straightforward. The six-time IndyCar champion will leave Chip Ganassi Racing after the 2026 season and join Arrow McLaren for 2027, alongside Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. McLaren’s announcement highlighted the New Zealander’s connection to Bruce McLaren and the significance of carrying on his compatriot’s legacy.
Dixon also brings substantial endurance experience. He has 4 Rolex 24 at Daytona victories, including 3 overall wins — in 2006, 2015 and 2020 — plus a GTLM class victory in 2018.
That background makes the New Zealander a natural candidate if McLaren wants to add an IndyCar driver to its Le Mans lineup.
Norris has already driven the MCL-HY
Norris, meanwhile, has considerably less endurance experience but is arguably the biggest star available within McLaren’s current structure.
The Briton became Formula 1 world champion in 2025 and recently signed a contract extension that keeps him with McLaren until at least the end of 2030.
More importantly, Norris has already had his first taste of the car that McLaren will take to Le Mans.
At the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, he drove the MCL-HY on the famous hillclimb during the prototype’s first public appearance. After the run, Norris said he wanted to drive the car more extensively and indicated that racing at Le Mans is part of his future plans.
McLaren’s return to the top class at Le Mans is particularly significant for Norris because the MCL-HY is designed to complete the manufacturer’s pursuit of another Triple Crown of Motorsport, alongside its Formula 1 and IndyCar programs.
McLaren still has seats to fill
Despite the speculation surrounding Dixon and Norris, McLaren already has Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor confirmed for its 2027 WEC campaign. Vanthoor is the 2024 Hypercar world champion and won the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours in the LMGTE Pro class.
The team has also used Grégoire Saucy, Richard Verschoor and Ben Hanley during development of the MCL-HY. McLaren says Jensen is being supported by Saucy and Verschoor from its Driver Development Programme, while United Autosports driver Hanley is contributing his experience to the testing program.
The final Le Mans lineup, however, could depend on the 2027 calendars. McLaren will need to determine whether its IndyCar and Formula 1 commitments allow one of its stars to make the trip to France without creating a scheduling conflict.
McLaren is preparing for a major Le Mans return
The MCL-HY will make McLaren’s return to the top level of endurance racing, 32 years after the team’s historic 1995 overall victory at Le Mans with the F1 GTR. The new LMDh prototype has already completed an extensive development program in 2026 ahead of homologation.
McLaren’s 2027 WEC campaign will begin at Qatar before visits to Imola, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps and, in June, the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 12-13.
If the calendars allow it, putting Dixon and Norris in the same McLaren Hypercar lineup would give the manufacturer’s Le Mans comeback an enormous amount of experience, star power and cross-series appeal.
GRANDE PRÊMIO will continue to follow McLaren’s preparations for its WEC debut and the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.
FAQ
Who are McLaren’s confirmed WEC drivers for 2027?
McLaren has confirmed Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor as its first 2 drivers for the 2027 Hypercar program.
Has Scott Dixon won the 24 Hours of Daytona?
Yes. Dixon has 3 overall Rolex 24 victories, in 2006, 2015 and 2020, plus a GTLM class victory in 2018.
Has Lando Norris driven McLaren’s Le Mans Hypercar?
Yes. Norris drove the MCL-HY at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, during the prototype’s first public appearance.
