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Grégoire Saucy joins McLaren’s 2027 WEC Hypercar line-up
McLaren has named Grégoire Saucy as its fifth 2027 WEC Hypercar driver, rewarding his MCL-HY testing work after an ELMS LMP2 title with United Autosports.
Grégoire Saucy will race for McLaren in the 2027 World Endurance Championship, becoming the fifth confirmed driver for its new Hypercar programme. The Swiss racer’s promotion follows a season helping develop the MCL-HY alongside a title-winning European Le Mans Series campaign.
Saucy joins Mikkel Jensen, Laurens Vanthoor, Alex Lynn and Leonardo Fornaroli in the six-driver squad. One seat remains to be announced.
The move takes the 26-year-old back to WEC after competing in LMGT3 with a McLaren 720S Evo in 2024 and 2025. His return will be in the championship’s top class.
Development work earns Saucy a race seat
Saucy was already involved when the MCL-HY first ran at Varano in Italy on 4 May, sharing driving duties with Jensen. He subsequently attended all but one of McLaren’s development tests and drove the car at its public Goodwood Festival of Speed appearance.
Our earlier report on McLaren and Ford’s preparations for their 2027 Hypercar entries covered Saucy’s contribution before a race seat had been confirmed.
“I stayed focused, worked hard and adapted quickly to the MCL-HY,” Saucy said in McLaren’s announcement.
He explained that he had hoped the development role would lead to a full-time drive, while recognising the competition from experienced drivers.
Team principal James Barclay credited Saucy’s speed, methodical working approach and progress during testing, presenting the promotion as a demonstration of the Driver Development Programme’s route to a works seat.
ELMS title adds to his endurance credentials
Saucy secured the 2026 ELMS LMP2 drivers’ championship with United Autosports team-mates Griffin Peebles and Ben Hanley. Their #22 Oreca won the Portimão finale to complete the title campaign.
The season produced two victories and five podium finishes across six rounds, combining his prototype racing programme with McLaren’s development work.
Before switching to endurance racing, Saucy won the 2021 Formula Regional European Championship with eight victories. His subsequent WEC LMGT3 career included a runner-up finish in Qatar.
McLaren has one driver still to name
The latest signing follows Fornaroli’s confirmation for the Hypercar programme alongside his continuing F1 reserve duties.
Saucy brings familiarity with the MCL-HY into a squad containing both established top-class endurance racers and a newcomer from single-seaters. McLaren’s remaining announcement will complete the six-driver roster for its 2027 WEC campaign.