McLaren Announces Malthe Jakobsen as Final Hypercar Driver for 2027 Season
Woking, UK — McLaren Racing has confirmed the addition of 23-year-old Malthe Jakobsen as the sixth and final full-time driver for its Hypercar program, set to debut in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2027. Jakobsen joins McLaren having spent two seasons with Peugeot, where he earned recognition as a talented young driver.
Jakobsen’s career trajectory accelerated after winning the European Le Mans Series LMP3 title in 2022 with Cool Racing at just 18 years old. His impressive performances led to his role as a development driver with Peugeot, and subsequently, a full-time position in the WEC for the 2025 season. Notably, he secured Peugeot’s first pole position with the 9X8 at Spa earlier this year and contributed to podium finishes under challenging conditions at Circuit of The Americas.
In addition to his work with Peugeot, Jakobsen has excelled in multiple LMP2 programs, claiming three Asian Le Mans Series titles, an LMP2 Pro/Am championship, and a class victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Jakobsen will race alongside notable teammates such as Mikkel Jensen, Laurens Vanthoor, Alex Lynn, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Gregoire Saucy in the McLaren MCL-HY.
“I am super excited to join the team; it feels unbelievable to be part of this project,” Jakobsen stated. “The history of the team, including the Le Mans win in 1995, is so special, and it will be an honor to represent McLaren on a global stage.”
James Barclay, Team Principal of McLaren Hypercar Team, remarked, “We are delighted to welcome Malthe. He has already established himself as one of endurance racing’s most exciting talents, combining speed and consistency with vital technical ability as we build towards our WEC debut.”
Jakobsen’s addition marks a significant step for McLaren as it gears up for its return to endurance racing.
