The 2027 Le Mans 24 Hours is shaping up to be the most exciting race in recent years. Ford and McLaren will join the Hypercar category, adding two more names to the list. This means the race will have 10 teams vying for the top spot. Although both companies haven’t been in top-tier sportscar racing for a while, they have strong histories. Ford won four times in a row between 1966 and 1969. McLaren won with its F1 GTR in 1995. Both are preparing to return with new prototypes.
Ford Starts Engine, Targets 2027 Debut
Ford made a big step in its hypercar project in July 2026. The team ran the 5.4-litre Coyote V8 for the first time in a fully built car. This happened at Oreca’s factory in France. The test included both the engine and the hybrid system. This was not a basic test. It showed Ford had fully connected the car’s parts. Now, the team will start on-track testing in August. Ford plans to use one car at first. They will add a second later.
Ford has already set its driver lineup for 2027. The first names were announced in January 2026. They signed Mike Rockenfeller, Sebastian Priaulx, and Logan Sargeant. In June, they added Tom Blomqvist, Nick Yelloly, and Matt Campbell. Dan Sayers leads the project. He used to work with Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing. Ford has stuck to a clear plan. They committed to Le Mans in January 2025. They partnered with Oreca and hired Sayers to lead the team.
McLaren is working on its MCL-HY prototype. It follows LMDh rules. The car uses a Dallara LMP2-based chassis. So far, it has gone through several tests. In July 2026, the team took a break to show the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Gregoire Saucy from United Autosports and Lando Norris drove it there. The car has not yet been painted in its final color. For now, it runs in a special tribute livery. This design honors Bruce McLaren.
McLaren added Laurens Vanthoor in July 2026. He comes from Porsche on loan. He joins Mikkel Jensen, a former Peugeot driver. Others, like Saucy and Richard Verschoor, tested the car. At the McLaren Technology Centre, the team is installing a new simulator. This tool will help improve race strategy. James Barclay leads the Hypercar team. He was with Jaguar in Formula E and helped Bentley win Le Mans in 2003. His experience adds strength to the team.
Ford’s next task is to improve the car and continue testing. The plan is to test in European circuits first. Then the team will move to North America. McLaren is further ahead in track testing. They will keep working on the car for homologation. This will happen at the Windshear wind tunnel in the US. Both teams aim to debut their hypercars before the 2027 WEC season. With 10 manufacturers confirmed for next year’s Le Mans, Ford and McLaren’s return shows the sport is growing stronger.
Ford and McLaren are using different paths to reach Le Mans. Ford is still in the early stages of track testing. McLaren has already taken the car to public events. Both are focused on building competitive machines. Their history at Le Mans gives them extra motivation. Ford ended Ferrari’s dominance in the 1960s. McLaren won in 1995. Now, they will try to write new chapters in their racing stories.
The timeline for both teams shows clear progress. Ford started in January 2025 by committing to return to Le Mans. They partnered with Oreca in June 2025 and hired Sayers in September 2025. In January 2026, they announced their first drivers and engine specs. June 2026 brought the second set of drivers. July 2026 saw the car built and tested for the first time. McLaren committed in April 2025. They joined forces with Dallara in June 2025 and named Jensen as their first driver in January 2026. May 2026 marked the official reveal of the MCL-HY in a special livery. July 2026 brought its public debut at Goodwood.
Ford and McLaren are not just returning to Le Mans. They are adding to the excitement of the 2027 race. Their presence increases the number of teams. This creates a more competitive field. Both companies have strong legacies. Ford’s dominance in the 1960s and McLaren’s 1995 victory are part of the event’s rich history. Now, they are working to bring back that success. Their hypercars will be part of a 10-way battle. This promises to make next year’s Le Mans a highlight of endurance racing.