McLaren has shared footage of the first fire-up of its Hypercar engine, as the British marque continues working towards its FIA WEC top class debut next year.
The V6 twin-turbocharged engine, which will power McLaren’s currently unnamed Dallara-based LMDh prototype, was developed in conjunction with Italian firm Autotecnica Motori (ATM).
Following the first fire-up, a pair of identical engines have since completed their initial dyno test phase, running laps of the Circuit des 24 Heures Du Mans, as McLaren works towards it target of beginning on-track running by May this year.
“Words cannot describe how it felt to fire up the engine for the first time… but I’ll try,” said McLaren United AS Team Principal James Barclay.
“To hear the engine, the heart of the car, come to life is a huge milestone for the team, and one we can be very proud of. Listening to and seeing the engine do its first laps of Le Mans is also extremely emotive: it is the sound that, if all goes to plan, will become the soundtrack to some great memories and achievements for the team.
“It is just the start, and we have a long way to go, but it’s a great milestone for the programme. We’re learning and making improvements in line with what we would expect and, most importantly, we’re running to schedule with the project.”
A video of the fire-up can be watched HERE >>>
Image courtesy of McLaren Racing
