Jensen: McLaren “Has So Much Hunger” for Success in Hypercar

New McLaren recruit Mikkel Jensen said a combination of the brand’s history, its “hunger” and wanting a new challenge were key factors in his decision to join its Hypercar program for the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

The Dane was revealed on Tuesday as the first signing for McLaren’s return to the top tier of sports car racing and follows a three-and-a-half year stint for Jensen at Peugeot in which a second place at Fuji last year was one of three podium finishes he achieved.

Jensen said he therefore felt the time was right for a change in scenery and was immediately interested as soon as he heard about McLaren’s decision to join the Hypercar ranks with a yet-to-be-named LMDh machine.

“There’s so many things – with my experience now in Hypercar I felt it was time for a new challenge for me,” said Jensen, when asked about his decision to leave Peugeot.

“When I saw the announcement from McLaren, because of the history of the brand, the Le Mans win in 1995, the success in F1, you just see there’s so much hunger here – everybody wants to win, I want to win. So it was just a great fit.

“We started talking and I think we were on the right page with everything and it was just a great match and I’m super excited.”

Jensen admitted he was “not super happy with the performance” at his previous employer and was already looking at his options at the time of McLaren’s confirmation of a Hypercar entry.

“It’s a hard thing to say,” he added about the decision. “I’m at a golden time in my career as well. I just turned 31 and that’s a good age for an endurance driver.

“I wasn’t really getting the success I felt I deserved and didn’t win a race yet so this makes you start looking around. When I saw McLaren announcing the project, obviously your eyes go in that direction exploring what is it with curiosity.

“The history of the brand in endurance racing it’s obviously very attractive. The transition was naturally happening and I thought it was time for a change in my career and I think it’s the right place to be.”

McLaren first began simulator work on its new machine in the immediate aftermath of more details of the program being announced at last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jensen began playing a role in that soon after his Peugeot commitments concluded following the WEC season finale in Bahrain in early November.

McLaren Endurance Racing team principal James Barclay revealed that further drivers should be announced soon with contracts already being finalized.