Reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris admitted it was ‘a lot of fun and very special’ to take to the famous Goodwood Hill yesterday (10 July) behind the wheel of McLaren Racing’s new MCL-HY, which will join the FIA World Endurance Championship’s burgeoning Hypercar category grid in 2027.
The British venue’s annual Festival of Speed witnessed the maiden global public appearance of the striking papaya prototype – which will spearhead the company’s first top-tier endurance racing effort since the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning F1 GTR three decades ago – in its Bruce McLaren tribute test livery.
The V6-twin-turbocharged car completed demo runs up the 1.86km West Sussex hill in the hands of both Norris and McLaren Driver Development Programme member, Grégoire Saucy.
“It’s always an absolute pleasure to be here, and to drive the MCL-HY on its Goodwood debut was an honour,” enthused McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team driver, Norris. “It’s a big project for McLaren obviously to start its journey towards Le Mans, and I got to have a little taste already, which was a lot of fun and very special.
“I would have liked to push the car a little more – it’s a bit daunting to do that at Goodwood – but one day, you never know, maybe I’ll get to drive it on a racetrack and really see what it can do. I’m very excited for all the boys and girls that are part of the MCL-HY project, and I wish them all the best.”
Revealed digitally in early May, the MCL-HY development car enjoyed a successful rollout at Varano in Italy prior to embarking upon an intensive on-track testing programme, to which it will return on Sunday. Next season, it will compete against other leading automotive manufacturers for world championship honours.
“Goodwood’s Festival of Speed is the greatest car show on earth,” commented James Barclay, Team Principal of McLaren Hypercar Team, “so it made sense for us to have this on our radar but the truth is, it was extremely early in our test programme so it was very lightly pencilled-in.
“However, our team has done an incredible job, hitting every target on and off-track, so we made the last-minute call to divert the MCL-HY to the event for two of the four days and share it with the passionate motorsport fans that attend.
“The appetite for sportscar racing in the UK is huge and we’re delighted that Goodwood gave us the opportunity to celebrate that. Thank you to everyone who pushed to make it possible, and to The Duke who was excited for us to bring the car along. UK-based fans who are hungry for more will also now have the chance to see the Hypercar class in action at Silverstone, as FIA WEC returns to the ‘Home of British Motorsport’ next year.”
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