It was a one-off car, primarily driven by Alain Prost.

The purpose of the M30 was to further capitalize on ground-effect design, taking over from the McLaren M29 which was perceived as obsolete.

The one and only M30 was damaged in an accident in practice for the 1980 United States Grand Prix.

Irish driver Alo Lawler used the car to compete in UK domestic Formule Libre championships between 1984 and 1989, and it was then sold to George Nuse who raced it in historic series in the USA.

Since 2004, Sean Allen has competitively raced the McLaren M30 in North America in the Historic Grand Prix.