McLaren Racing Eyes Future in IMSA GTP Category
Daytona Beach, FL – Ahead of the 2026 Rolex 24 At Daytona, McLaren Racing has reaffirmed its ambition to compete in the IMSA GTP category, leveraging its upcoming LMDh prototype designed for the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
During a media roundtable, key figures including James Barclay, McLaren’s Hypercar team principal; Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing; and Richard Dean, co-owner of United Autosports, outlined the team’s strategic focus on establishing their WEC program set to debut in 2027, while eyeing a future in North America.
Barclay emphasized, “The first priority is establishing the programme. We want to be close to the developments here,” reiterating that their current commitment lies with the WEC. He added, “There’s a huge desire for us to want to be here in the future.”
Regarding entry into IMSA, Barclay stated that all options remain open, though no concrete plans are in place. “Right now, our focus is on setting up the Hypercar programme and then assessing the right business case for IMSA,” he explained.
United Autosports will serve as the operational partner for McLaren’s WEC initiative from their UK base, while the potential for leveraging their Mooresville, North Carolina facility for IMSA remains uncertain. Brown clarified that decisions regarding IMSA involvement will be made jointly with Barclay, noting, “James has total authority to figure out where he wants to take the programme.”
Ricardo Nault, Vice President of IMSA Operations at RLL, expressed enthusiasm about potentially running McLaren’s Hypercar in IMSA, citing their historical success with BMW’s GTP efforts: “We definitely want to run the Hypercar if it comes to IMSA.”
Additionally, McLaren’s IMSA involvement could offer driver opportunities during the busy racing schedule. Brown remarked on the flexibility IMSA provides, suggesting past participation by drivers like Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso showcases the potential to field additional cars for the Daytona 24 Hours.
The overarching objective for McLaren Racing remains clear: to achieve the motorsport ‘Triple Crown’ encompassing victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500, and Le Mans. When asked about the feasibility of a single McLaren driver clinching all three titles, Brown acknowledged the challenges, especially regarding interest in the Indy 500.
As McLaren lays the groundwork for its future in sports car racing, the motorsport community will watch closely for further developments in their ambitious plans.
