McLaren's LMDh prototype hits the track for the first time

McLaren’s LMDh challenger hit the track for the first time at Autodromo Riccardo Paletti, completing its initial test ahead of its planned debut in the World Endurance Championship in 2027.

The circuit adjacent to chassis supplier Dallara's headquarters in Varano de' Melegari was chosen by the British marque for the MCL-HY’s shakedown.

While the covers were officially lifted on the hybrid prototype in its orange test livery at 10am on Monday, just minutes earlier the car’s twin-turbo V6 engine, built by ATM-AutoTecnica Motori, was fired up for the first time in the pitlane at Varano.

Mikkel Jensen, McLaren's first Hypercar signing, completed the the car’s installation laps.

"So we just finished our day with the car, the rollout here in Italy," commented the Dane, the programme’s first official driver, who will share development duties with Gregoire Saucy, Richard Verschoor, and Ben Hanley.

"The McLaren hypercar feels great. We went through all our run plan; mainly system checks, making sure gearbox, engine, all the system, a lot of software on the car, was working well.

Photo by: McLaren

"So now [we are] getting [into] more detail into how we can optimise the car. It's been a great day. A lot of fun driving the car for the first time, so a lot of work from here to be ready for next season."

From 2027, United Autosports will run the MCL-HY programme, with McLaren Endurance team principal James Barclay adding: “It's day one of the McLaren Hypercar Team testing programme and it's been our rollout day and our shakedown day. It is the first day the car turns wheels on track for the first time here.

"The team here have been working absolutely flat out. We wrote this date down over a year ago. We said we wanted to be out on track for the first time at the start of May and, just after 9:00 this morning, we left the pitlane and fired up the IC engine and did our first laps. 

"So a milestone moment for us as a team, a historic moment for us at McLaren returning back to the top tier of sportcar racing. 2026 is the year we test and develop the car, we get our team ready to go and face world class competition in the World Endurance Championship and, of course, the oldest motor race in history, the Le Mans 24 Hours. We can't wait.

"A big year ahead but we are just getting started. We don't underestimate how difficult it's going to be, but we have a fantastic starting point, the team are hugely motivated and we have a car which we hope will help us realise our dream of getting ourselves back in the top tier of sportscar racing and back onto that podium."