MCLAREN HYPERCAR COMES TO MONTEREY CAR WEEK
The first McLaren “Project: Endurance” customer Le Mans Hypercar was unveiled during Monterey Car Week, with a livery echoing the car company’s first Triple Crown win at the 1974 Indy 500.
By The Editors
Mon, Aug 18, 2025 06:00 AM PST
Featured image above: The first owner's McLaren Hypercar was unveiled at Monterey Car Week in a livery echoing the company's first Triple Crown win at the 1974 Indianapolis 500 (McLaren Automotive photograph).
The McLaren Le Mans Hypercar was unveiled in a new livery for prospective buyers of the “Project: Endurance” customer car program during a private event at Monterey Car Week. Presented by McLaren Group Holdings CEO, Nick Collins and McLaren Racing CEO, Zak Brown, and hosted by Justin Bell, third place overall finisher at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans in the #51 McLaren F1 GTR, Project: Endurance showcased a new livery with a nod to the famed 1974 Indianapolis 500 winning McLaren M16.
We caught a glimpse of the McLaren Hypercar back at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before the full on unveiling of a customer car during Monterey Car Week. It’s scheduled to make its competitive debut in the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The carmaker says it will attempt to repeat the Triple Crown* of motorsport, but this time in a single season.
The new paint scheme takes its inspiration from the first of McLaren’s Triple Crown victories, the 1974 Indianapolis 500 with Texas driver Johnny “Lone Star JR” Rutherford. The body color is updated to McLaren Orange with a dark blue center strip inspired by the color of the Texas flag, with the roof of the cockpit sporting the lone white star of Texas that was on the helmet design used by Rutherford. The livery scheme carries Lone Star JR’s race number 3 as well as McLaren’s Speedy Kiwi and Speedmark logos.
“Project: Endurance offers the opportunity to own an authentic Le Mans Hypercar – a driving experience few will ever experience – and to be at the very heart of an elite motorsport development and testing program,” says McLaren Group Holdings CEO, Nick Collins. “This includes full behind-the-scenes access to the upcoming McLaren United AS WEC campaign, key team personnel and drivers as well as a comprehensive track driving program at world-famous race circuits.”
“We’re looking forward to showcasing Project: Endurance, with a livery tied specifically to our motorsports heritage in the US, to Americas customers and prospects throughout August,” said Collins.
About “Project: Endurance”
“Project: Endurance” owners have a two-year McLaren customer track program that includes some of the world’s best race circuits. Each owner receives driver coaching from a race professional, with individual pit crew and race engineers supporting throughout, allowing them a pathway to master their hypercar and push their limits at the pinnacle of sportscar racing.
Project: Endurance will be further showcased at events in Dallas and Miami through the end of August. For more information, you can visit: cars.mclaren.com/us-en/project-endurance.
* The Triple Crown refers to victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix. McLaren is the only team to have won all three of these iconic races.
About McLaren Automotive
McLaren Automotive makes ultra high-performance, lightweight supercars. Launched in 2010, the company is part of McLaren Group Holdings.
Headquartered at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey, England. The company’s product portfolio of GTS, supercar, Motorsport and Ultimate models are retailed in over 40 markets around the world. Its cars are assembled by hand at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC), based on the same MTC campus that is also the home of McLaren Racing.
