McLaren Racing has revealed that its Formula 1 reserve driver and reigning FIA Formula 2 Champion, Leonardo Fornaroli will compete for the marque’s freshly-formed Hypercar outfit in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027.
Eighteen months ago, McLaren confirmed it would be stepping up to FIA WEC’s top-tier next year, as the famous British brand bids to recreate former glories. Its most recent participation at the long-distance discipline’s highest level yielded outright victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – on its maiden appearance in the twice-round-the-clock contest with the iconic F1 GTR back in 1995.
Since that announcement, McLaren has been busy racking up the testing miles with the new MCL-HY Hypercar – even borrowing 2025 F1 World Champion, Lando Norris for its latest outing at Portimão – while simultaneously putting together its six-strong driver line-up which, with the addition of Fornaroli, is now two-thirds complete.
One of motorsport’s most highly-rated young talents, the 21-year-old Italian has established himself as a formidable competitor courtesy of a remarkable rise up the single-seater ladder, clinching back-to-back FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 crowns in 2024 and 2025 – a feat achieved by just four other drivers.
Not only did that success showcase Fornaroli’s raw pace, composure and racecraft in the sport’s most competitive junior series, it also earned him a place on the McLaren Driver Development Programme, where he has supported the manufacturer’s F1 efforts this season.
The Piacenza native will now bring his title-winning pedigree to McLaren Hypercar Team – alongside earlier recruits, Mikkel Jensen, 2024 FIA World Endurance Champion, Laurens Vanthoor and Alex Lynn.
“Joining McLaren Hypercar Team is an incredibly exciting next step in my career, and I’m grateful that my [ongoing] role as McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team Reserve Driver has opened up this incredible opportunity,” Fornaroli enthused. “To represent McLaren in the FIA World Endurance Championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a huge honour, and I’m ready to give everything as we take on this new challenge together.
“I’d like to thank the McLaren Driver Development Programme for supporting me throughout my journey, and for giving me the opportunity to develop my skills on such a competitive and prestigious stage.”
“Leo is an exceptional talent – winning Formula 3 is a significant achievement, but to follow that by winning Formula 2 as a rookie underlines his natural ability as one of the most exciting drivers in motorsport,” added Team Principal, James Barclay. “His speed, consistency and maturity at such a young age helped him to achieve a huge amount in the junior categories, and those same attributes make him an exciting addition to our McLaren Hypercar Team.
“We have a great driver line-up forming, which blends experienced sportscar drivers and now young talent for our debut season. I worked with Leo briefly in my previous role, and his approach and performance impressed me very much. We look forward to taking on McLaren’s debut season in the FIA World Endurance Championship together.”
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