Leonardo Fornaroli will combine his role as McLaren’s Formula 1 reserve driver with a race seat in the manufacturer’s Hypercar programme for its 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship debut.
McLaren has confirmed that Leonardo Fornaroli will join its Hypercar driver lineup for the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship, marking the Italian’s first official step into sportscar racing.
The 21-year-old, who currently serves as McLaren’s Formula 1 reserve driver, becomes the fourth confirmed member of the team’s lineup ahead of its planned entry into the top class of endurance racing next season. He will continue his reserve duties in Formula 1 alongside his new commitments.
Fornaroli joins Alex Lynn, Laurens Vanthoor and Mikkel Jensen in the developing lineup, with the reamining two seats unanounced thus far.
The announcement represents a new chapter for Fornaroli, who claimed the FIA Formula 3 championship in 2024 before securing the Formula 2 title in 2025 during his rookie season. After spending 2026 without a full-time racing seat, the Italian will now have the opportunity to return to competition with McLaren.
Speaking about the announcement, Fornaroli expressed his excitement at taking on the challenge of endurance racing while continuing his relationship with the Formula 1 team: “Joining the McLaren Hypercar Team is an incredibly exciting next step in my career,” he said.
Team principal James Barclay emphasised the importance of combining experienced sportscar racers with emerging talent: “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 talent and makes him one of the most exciting drivers in motorsport. His speed, consistency and maturity at such a young age helped him achieve a huge amount in the junior categories, and those same attributes make him an exciting addition to our McLaren Hypercar Team.”
With four drivers now confirmed, McLaren is continuing to shape its roster ahead of its highly anticipated Hypercar debut. The team is expected to announce the remaining members of its lineup as preparations progress for the 2027 season.
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