For McLaren, this year’s Monterey Car Week festivities weren’t just about showcasing exceptional cars; it was about unveiling their daring spirit, unwavering endurance, and relentless drive to win. From the global debut of the 750S Le Mans to the launch of Project Endurance, McLaren demonstrated its DNA in motion: racing heritage, bold innovation, and a passion for motorsport that transcends generations.

For me, this story started over 365 days ago.

Last year, I attended McLaren’s annual VIP party in Pebble Beach, which was a 30th Anniversary celebration of Ayrton Senna’s legacy hosted by his nephew, Bruno Senna (pictured below). It was there that I first learned how Bruno had championed the idea of the McLaren Senna, ensuring his uncle’s name lived on in a hypercar designed to push every limit. The Senna wasn’t just another supercar; it was a car infused with soul, created to release the driver’s absolute best.

Bruno explained: “When they told me this was supposed to be the most extreme road car they’d ever developed, I said: ‘You know, why don’t we call it the Senna?’… When the McLaren Senna ultimately came out, I was so proud to be part of it. That car was always pushing the limits of performance.”

Hearing that story and learning more about Ayrton’s incredible racing career shaped how I saw McLaren.

I came to realize, this isn’t just a car company. But rather, it’s a continuum; one generation inspiring the next, each car carrying a human spirit that goes far beyond carbon fiber and steel.

Since McLaren got its start in motorsports, it has not only influenced the world of racing but has also deeply impacted those who drive their cars, both on the track and on the road.

During this year’s Car Week, I visited the exclusive Château McLaren, an invite-only estate nestled in the hills of Carmel Valley. Tucked away from the world, this exquisite manor not only showcased a variety of McLaren automobiles but also several pieces of memorabilia that honored its racing history. While walking through the venue, it felt like a shrine to the racing icons of the past, celebrating the ferocity, ambition, and devotion that its racecar drivers have exemplified over the years.

About a week after MCW concluded, I was pondering the angle of this article, as I wanted to genuinely express the character of the brand, because to me, that’s so much more interesting than just writing about specs or superficial event coverage. Just when I wondered how to capture the soul of this story, synchronicity answered…

To my surprise, a song titled “Emotions” began to play (as I was streaming music), featuring Ayrton Senna’s own voice echoing: “We’re all made of emotions. There are many different ways of experiencing emotions.” I was honestly in a state of shock in that moment, hearing his voice and seeing an image of him appear on my phone. As a result, tears started running down my cheeks. Hearing it felt eerily uncanny, as though Ayrton himself was reminding me that racing, like life, is not just about machinery or precision, but about passion, drive, and the emotions that fuel us.

Later that day, I was curious about the origins of that song and came to learn that the track was part of a tribute album marking 30 years since his passing. At that point, I felt like Ayrton’s spirit was guiding me to tap into the deeper emotions that fuel both racecar drivers and the team behind McLaren. The synchronicity was so unbelievable that I knew it had to be woven into this story.

As I’ve come to realize, McLaren’s motto, “Fearlessly Forward,” is more than just a catchy marketing slogan. If anything, it captures a deeply ingrained philosophy that emanated from the track: the idea that courage, vision, and relentless drive can transcend the impossible.

Ayrton embodied it with his daring visualization techniques and fearless racing, making him a legendary icon who’s revered by millions of people around the globe to this day. Bruno carried it forward through his work with McLaren, turning Ayrton’s dream into reality. And this year, McLaren brought it to life in two distinct ways.

The 750S Le Mans: A special edition coupe celebrating the 30th anniversary of McLaren’s victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995.

As Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, McLaren Automotive’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted: “The 750S Le Mans marks not just 30 years since our debut victory in the iconic race but an exciting time for the brand with McLaren GT3 EVO cars competing in this year’s race and the announcement of our return to the top, Hypercar class in 2027. This exclusive 750S is the first McLaren Le Mans edition since the F1 LM to feature HDK aerodynamic enhancements and is set to become one of our most sought-after supercars.”

Project Endurance: An audacious hypercar development program announced at Monterey, which will see McLaren return to the top tier of endurance racing.

McLaren Group CEO Nick Collins put it this way: “There is a huge level of excitement for Project: Endurance around the globe with customers and fans. The opportunity to be one of only a few to own this Le Mans Hypercar and be directly involved in the development and testing program is a very special proposition.”

Both cars are milestones: one celebrating legacy, the other accelerating into the future.

To my surprise, as I was in the midst of working on this article, another unexpected fateful moment happened…

Through a random social media interaction, I connected with Justin Bell (pictured below), who’s a World Champion racecar driver and son of the legendary Derek Bell.

As irony would have it, earlier that week, I learned that Justin was one of just three drivers chosen to participate in McLaren’s States of Endurance project, a cross-country journey launched at Monterey Car Week that spanned 3,867 miles (the same distance as Le Mans) across eight states, from Monterey to Miami. The project commenced to honor the 30th Anniversary of the brand’s heroic win at the 1995 Le Mans race.

Naturally, I knew he’d be the perfect person to interview for this story, as he’s not only lived the Le Mans experience (which very few people on this planet have done), but he was also the host of this momentous three-car journey that honored McLaren’s history.

To help me better understand the grueling effort it takes to race in Le Mans, we had an in-depth conversation, touching on everything from psychological cues that racecar drivers use to enhance their focusing abilities to ways he manages his nervous system and overcomes fears while doing endurance racing. Since Justin finished third overall at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans in a McLaren F1 GTR, his participation in this year’s event highlighted the connection between the company’s historic racing heritage and its newest hypercar launch.

Reflecting on his Le Mans experience with McLaren, Justin explained:

“The moment you put on the helmet, you change. You shut out the noise, the fear, and everything else disappears. All that remains is the car, the track, and the present moment.

Anyone who says they don’t feel fear in racing isn’t telling the truth. The difference is what you do with it. You carry fear with you, but you don’t let it take the wheel. Focus, preparation, and trust in yourself and the machine, that’s what gets you through.

It was extraordinary to take a car born from endurance racing and live with it on public roads. I appreciate how McLaren translates that DNA from the track into the street; the balance, the poise, the relentless capability. It reminded me that endurance is as much about the mind as the machine.”

Throughout our discussion, Justin highlighted how endurance racing is not just a test of speed, but of resilience, teamwork, and generational passion.

He described the evolution of mental preparation in motorsports, from the “just do it” mindset of previous generations (like his father, who had a very ‘hands-on’ approach to racing, rather than relying on guidance from sports psychologists or trainers) to modern techniques like visualization or breathing exercises.

Based on Justin’s explanation, his father belonged to a different era, one defined by a pioneering spirit. He explained that in earlier generations, drivers simply got behind the wheel and raced, without the benefit of extensive analysis, coaches, or simulators. It was a time when they relied on their own instincts and determination to forge their path in the sport.

Racing at Le Mans 30 years ago alongside his father, Derek (who has won the Le Mans 24 hours five times), brought an emotional layer few will ever know.

“To race at Le Mans on Father’s Day, alongside my dad, was surreal. We’d dreamed of that moment for years, and when it happened, it was overwhelming. Le Mans is the toughest race on earth – the endurance, the night stints, the mental exhaustion, and to share that with him made it unforgettable. It was the pivotal experience of my life, for sure, racing-wise and emotionally. I remember thinking: ‘How does it get better than this?’ And to do it with him on Father’s Day – that was very significant, and I can still tap into those emotions today.”

During our discussion, Justin spoke about the uniqueness of the McLaren F1 GTR, describing it as a “unicorn of a car” and a poster child for a generation. He highlighted the legacy of Bruce McLaren and the significance of being part of a brand that was still building its road and GT car history at the time.

He continued by saying, “More people have been to space than have raced at Le Mans. It’s that rare. And when you’re there, you realize it’s not just about driving. It’s about total focus, stripping away fear, and trusting both your intuition and logic to make split-second decisions.”

What struck me most this year was how seamlessly McLaren threads its past, present, and future into one narrative. Ayrton Senna’s influence, Bruno’s vision for the McLaren Senna, Justin Bell and his father’s legacy, the 1995 Le Mans win, the new 750S Le Mans, and the audacity of Project Endurance are all chapters of the same story.

It’s evident that McLaren’s story isn’t just about cars; it’s about the human spirit’s ability to dare, persevere, and win. That, in essence, is the very meaning of endurance.

From Justin Bell’s emotionally-charged recount of his epic Le Mans experience to Ayrton Senna’s legendary racing career that paved the way for many modern-day racers, these illustrious racecar drivers are proof that “Fearlessly Forward” isn’t just an inspiring mantra; it’s both a mindset and a way of life.

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[Media access provided by McLaren. Monterey Car Week image credits: Christina-Lauren Pollack and Brooke Damnavits for Inspirations & Celebrations; States of Endurance image credits: McLaren. All opinions are my own.]