Could the renowned McLaren Formula 1 drivers be gearing up for the monumental Le Mans 24 Hours race in the foreseeable future? The Woking-based heavyweight seems to be making strategic moves to penetrate the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar echelon. Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, hints that their drivers are eager to conquer the revered French endurance classic.
In an interaction with WEC TV during the inaugural round of the 2025 season held in Qatar, Brown shared his drivers’ ambitions. Both Lando Norris, who had earlier participated in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2018 representing United Autosports, and Oscar Piastri, have set their sights on the illustrious La Sarthe.
Brown, an ardent fan of traditional racing, reminisced about the likes of Mario Andrettis and Dan Gurneys who competed in diverse formulas. “In today’s era of corporate dominance in the sport, we often face conflicts with manufacturers, sponsors, and calendars. This is why I thoroughly enjoyed racing alongside Fernando (Alonso) – a true racer at heart, eager to compete whether it be at Le Mans, Indy, or Dakar,” he stated.
Brown continued, “We have a very liberal approach. Who on earth wouldn’t want to bag a victory at Le Mans? I’ve had conversations with both Lando and Oscar about this, and they’ve expressed their interest to compete at Le Mans. I believe the convergence of various motorsports is incredibly exciting.”
He also subtly hinted at an impending announcement about McLaren’s future in sports car racing, possibly coming this June.
The 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours holds special significance for McLaren as they commemorate the 30th anniversary of their monumental victory with the F1 GTR. The event also presents an opportunity for McLaren to amplify their success through the LMGT3 entries fielded by Brown’s United Autosports team, co-owned with Richard Dean.
“We are passionate about sports car racing,” Brown confessed. “We are the sole team to have clinched the ‘Triple Crown,’ and we aspire to achieve it once more. We are quite impressed with the regulations and the rivalry.
He further added, “Our participation in LMGT3 was a preliminary step. Although it’s an excellent class, it would be thrilling to witness other McLarens topping different leaderboards.”
As the anticipation builds towards June, Brown expressed his excitement for Le Mans, which he considers a must-attend event. Despite the clash with the Montreal Grand Prix, Brown confirmed his preference for France over Canada, indicating the importance of Le Mans for McLaren.
“We have been considering this move for a considerable period and like what we discover. Now we just need to assess our performance in Formula 1 and IndyCar. I believe the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
“I think our intention is quite clear. We are eager to compete for the overall victory in Le Mans, and our other teams are in top form,” concluded Brown.