Watch out Ferrari: the MCL-HY is McLaren’s Le Mans hypercar with a 700bhp V6

Here’s a car that might be causing a few sleepless nights in Maranello. It’s the incredibly powerful, incredibly light and incredibly orange McLaren MCL-HY, a car built to compete in the 2027 World Endurance Championship.

Which means it’s heading to a little place called Le Mans to give Ferrari what for. And it's bringing a whole lotta history along for the ride. The livery - what McLaren deems 'striking' and what Top Gear classifies as 'searing' - is one that nods to Bruce McLaren's M6A which he had intended to take to France in the form of the M6GT.

Indeed, McLaren points out its history in Sports Cars, from Can-Am in the '60s and '70s, to winning the 1995 Le Mans 24hr with something called an 'F1 GTR'. Should probably look into that.

At the heart of this lies a lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis “with exceptional balance” – well, it is a McLaren – packed full of twin-turbocharged V6 fury and a hybrid MGU setup. McLaren quotes a minimum weight of just 1,030kg and power totalling just under 700 horsies. Horsies that have a really hard job.

“The MCL-HY has been developed to balance outright performance with endurance racing efficiency,” said the team. It’s also been developed alongside a version available to purchase for a select group of presumably very wealthy clients.

Because like Ferrari’s gorgeous 499P Modificata, McLaren is offering a track-only version of the MCL-HY in a “first-of-its-kind” collaboration between McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive. Unlike the Ferrari 499P Modificata, however, McLaren’s customer version does without the hybrid gubbins, dropping weight to below a tonne, and upping power to 726bhp. Or thereabouts.

“This decision,” says McLaren, “ensures that clients benefit from a purer driving experience on track days.” Naturally you don’t just buy one and then pop off to the shops in it, chiefly because you can’t drive it on public roads but also because there’s an entire programme of ownership built around the thing: access to McLaren’s WEC programme, exclusive track days, coaching, a pit crew, and engineering support.

Speaking of support, the racing MCL-HY will begin its development this year so it can start fighting next year. And there’s something bigger at stake than just sticking one over on the guys in rosso.

“McLaren’s return to racing in the premier class at Le Mans also marks the beginning of a challenge to once again take the Triple Crown of motorsport,” said McLaren, “encompassing victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

Game on, you might say.