Fornaroli to Race for McLaren in 2027 WEC Season

McLaren has announced that Leonardo Fornaroli will race in its Hypercar programme in the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship while continuing as the team’s Formula 1 reserve driver, giving him a place in the manufacturer’s planned return to top-level endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Italian driver, who won the FIA Formula 2 title in 2025 after taking the Formula 3 championship in 2024, will combine his F1 reserve role with his first WEC season. McLaren said Alex Lynn, Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor are also confirmed for the Hypercar programme. The complete driver lineup for the team’s two cars has not yet been announced. Fornaroli’s move puts him in a racing role alongside his continued work with McLaren’s F1 operation. He made two first-practice appearances this season, at Barcelona and the Hungaroring, and has also taken part in testing and simulator work. McLaren has planned further F1 practice sessions for him at the Mexico City and São Paulo Grands Prix, according to an announcement about his development programme. The Hypercar assignment will mark Fornaroli’s debut in the World Endurance Championship and at Le Mans. McLaren is preparing a new...