AkzoNobel and the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team have extended their long-running partnership, which includes expanding into the world of endurance racing.

In addition to continuing as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team’s exclusive Official Partner: Coatings Solutions, AkzoNobel has also become one of the first partners to join the McLaren United Autosports WEC Hypercar Team ahead of its entry into next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.

The two parties originally teamed up in 2008 and share an unwavering commitment to outstanding performance and pioneering innovation.

This year’s McLaren Mastercard F1 car is due to be launched on February 9. Testing for the new F1 season is scheduled to start in Bahrain on February 12, while the first Grand Prix is due to take place in Australia on March 8.

“We’re incredibly excited to continue and extend our collaboration with such a long-standing and valued partner,” says Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business. “Our search for better never stops, so we’ll carry on working together to push boundaries and explore new possibilities in the areas of sustainability, technological innovation, and product development.”

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is a global sports car racing series focused on long-distance events that test reliability, strategy, and team performance. The Hypercar category is the top class in WEC and was introduced in 2021.

The WEC Championship includes the famous Le Mans 24-hour race, which was won by the McLaren Racing team on its debut in the event back in 1995.

Matt Dennington, Co-Chief Commercial Officer, McLaren Racing, adds: “AkzoNobel has been a trusted partner for McLaren for nearly two decades and we’re excited to take that collaboration to the next level. Partners who share our passion for performance and innovation are key to achieving success and we look forward to working together as we enter the World Endurance Championship.”