Gregoire Saucy, the European Le Mans Series champion, has been revealed as the newest driver set to campaign McLaren’s forthcoming MCL-HY Hypercar in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the upcoming season.
A participant in the McLaren Driver Development Program, Saucy has been engaged with the Hypercar project since its outset and was one of two pilots, together with Mikkel Jensen, to test the MCL-HY during its initial showcase at Varano in May.
He later conducted further tests in the United Autosports-prepared machine and earned a race seat as McLaren’s driver for its World Endurance Championship debut next season.
Since switching from single-seaters to sports cars in 2024, Saucy has made a strong impression, spending two years behind the wheel of a United McLaren 720S GT3 Evo in the WEC calendar.
He followed that by clinching this season’s ELMS championship in a United Oreca 07 Gibson, alongside Griffin Peebles and Ben Hanley.
“I am absolutely delighted to receive this opportunity,” Saucy commented.
“When I linked up with the McLaren Hypercar Team during its development year, I hoped it would open a path to a full-time race seat, though I was aware of the substantial pool of experienced talent in the driver market.
“I stayed focused, put in the effort, and adapted swiftly to the MCL-HY.”
“I have cherished every moment with this squad—the standards are extraordinarily high, the people are supportive, and the atmosphere is fantastic.”
McLaren Endurance Racing team principal James Barclay commented that Saucy’s elevation precisely embodies the aim of the McLaren Driver Development Program: spotting remarkable talent, nurturing it, and forging a real route to a factory race seat.
“He has impressed us throughout the MCL-HY test program with his speed, methodical approach within the squad, and progress across the demanding testing schedule.”
“He has earned this opportunity, and we are eager to see him advance to the next stage of his career with McLaren.”
Saucy thus becomes the fifth driver named to compete in the MCL-HY next season, joining Jensen, Laurens Vanthoor, Alex Lynn, and fellow MDDP member Leonardo Fornaroli.
Malthe Jakobsen, driving for Peugeot, is expected to be revealed in the final seat in the near term, as the French manufacturer has recently confirmed that this weekend’s Monza WEC finale will be his last outing in the Peugeot 9X8.
