What does endurance truly mean? For most, it’s about pushing through adversity. For a racing brand like McLaren, however, it’s woven into the very carbon fibre of its being. It’s the spirit that saw them conquer the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans on their first attempt in 1995. Now, 30 years on, McLaren has celebrated that iconic victory not with a simple party, but by proving that the endurance mindset is alive and well in its road cars. They called it ‘States of Endurance’: an epic 3,867-mile road trip across eight American states, a journey designed to honour the past, celebrate the present, and hint at a thrilling future.
This was no mere parade. Three of McLaren’s latest supercars, the 750S in both Coupe and Spider form, and the hybrid Artura Spider, were piloted by professional McLaren drivers from the sun-drenched coast of Monterey, California, to the vibrant streets of Miami, Florida. It was a rolling, high-octane tribute to the brand’s relentless racing DNA and a chance to connect with the community of fans and owners who share that passion.
More Than Just a Road Trip
Putting modern supercars through their paces on a cross-country tour is a fantastic way to generate stunning images, but McLaren’s objective ran deeper. The total distance of 3,867 miles was deliberately plotted to eclipse the typical distance covered by a winning car at the Le Mans 24 Hours. This wasn’t just a drive; it was a statement. It proved that these meticulously engineered machines, born from racing technology, possess the quality and resilience to deliver not just blistering track performance, but also an unforgettable long-distance driving experience.
As Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, McLaren’s Chief Commercial Officer, explained, the journey was a perfect showcase of the brand’s ethos. “Endurance racing represents McLaren’s tenacity, and the States of Endurance journey is a perfect intersection of our endurance heritage with the cutting-edge engineering, technologies and uncompromising standards that make our supercars capable of experiences that still resonate with the driver long after the journey ends,” he stated. The trip was a physical manifestation of how the lessons learned from the crucible of motorsport directly translate into road cars that are both thrilling and astoundingly capable.
The Three Horsemen of Woking
The trio of cars selected for this odyssey perfectly represents the current pinnacle of McLaren Automotive. Leading the charge was the benchmark-beating 750S, the lightest and most powerful series-production McLaren ever created. Available in both hardtop Coupe and open-air Spider form, the 750S delivers a breadth of abilities that few cars can match, blending raw power with surgical precision. Alongside it was the McLaren Artura Spider, a car that showcases the brand’s super-lightweight engineering philosophy in a high-performance hybrid package.
To visually cement the connection to Le Mans, the cars were wrapped in special liveries representing the Dawn, Day, and Night phases of a 24-hour race—a beautiful and symbolic touch. At the helm were McLaren pro and Trophy racing drivers Paul Rees, Jack Barlow, and Oliver Webb, professionals who understand exactly what it takes to push a car to its limits for extended periods. Even the luggage was on-brand, with official partner TUMI providing pieces from the TUMI | McLaren Spring 2025 collection for the journey.
Coast to Coast: A Journey for the Fans
The ‘States of Endurance’ tour began in grand fashion during the prestigious Monterey Car Week in California, before embarking on its cross-country trek. The route was a carefully planned series of ‘Pit Stops’ hosted in collaboration with McLaren retailers, transforming the drive into a nationwide celebration.
Events in Newport Beach, Scottsdale, Dallas, Atlanta, and Orlando allowed supercar enthusiasts and motorsport fans to get up close and personal with the cars and their endurance-driver pilots. In a testament to the strong McLaren community, convoys of owners’ cars even joined for parts of the journey, creating a spectacular multi-million-dollar spectacle on American highways. This was McLaren bringing the brand directly to its people, sharing the spirit that defines them.
Honouring the Past, Unveiling the Future
Each pit stop was also a mobile museum of McLaren’s endurance story. Alongside the tour cars, retailers displayed two other significant models. The first was the exclusive 750S Le Mans edition, a special model created to directly mark the three-decade anniversary of the 1995 victory. The second, dubbed “Project: Endurance,” offered a tantalising look at the customer car program associated with McLaren’s official re-entry into the top class of endurance racing from 2027 onwards.
The connection to that historic 1995 race was made even more tangible through the people the team met along the way. One such figure was Justin Bell, who famously drove a McLaren F1 GTR to a podium finish in that very race. Having figures like Bell share their firsthand stories of resilience reinforces the human element behind the mechanical achievement. It wasn’t just about the car; it was about the team, the drivers, and the unyielding will to win.
Endurance as a Mindset
Further expanding on this human element, the journey became an exploration of endurance itself. Along the route, the drivers met with a diverse range of remarkable individuals, including ranchers, astronauts, and world-record-holding athletes. Each shared their own personal story of what endurance means to them, demonstrating how the concept transcends the racetrack to become a universal mindset—a way of life. This brilliant addition to the tour elevated it from a simple car story to a more profound narrative about human potential and resilience.
A Glimpse of What’s Next: The McLaren W1
Perhaps the most exciting piece of news to emerge from the event was a subtle but significant nod to McLaren’s next chapter. As the ‘States of Endurance’ tour concluded, the company revealed that its next boundary-pushing hypercar, the McLaren W1, is close to completing its own ‘States of Endurance’ test and validation programme.
This is huge. The W1 is poised to be the ground-breaking successor to two of the most iconic cars ever made: the original McLaren F1 and the hybrid McLaren P1™. By linking its final development phase to the same endurance philosophy celebrated on the US tour, McLaren is sending a clear message: the spirit of the F1 GTR and the relentless pursuit of performance are the guiding principles for its next generation of halo cars.
Ultimately, the ‘States of Endurance’ journey was far more than a 3,867-mile drive. It was a powerful, rolling declaration of everything McLaren stands for. It connected a legendary past with an exciting present and an electrifying future, proving that whether it’s on the Mulsanne Straight or a highway in Texas, the endurance spirit is what drives McLaren forward.
Here’s the time we spent behind the wheel of McLaren in NZ
