- Genesis is developing an LMDh race car
- Genesis will power the LMDh with a V-8 formed from two Hyundai World Rally Championship 4-cylinder engines
- Genesis plans an assault on both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship
Genesis announced last December plans to enter the top level of endurance racing with a new factory team and race car.
On Friday, the automaker provided an update, confirming that the race car, named the GMR-001, will be unveiled in April ahead of the start of testing in August.
The car will be fielded by Genesis Magma Racing, led by team principal Cyril Abiteboul, the former managing director of the Renault Formula 1 team. It is set to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship as early as 2026, with plans to enter the IMSA SportsCar Championship the following year. Its participation in the FIA series means it will compete for the overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Competing at the top level of these series requires participation in the respective Hypercar and GTP classes, which means building a race car to either LMDh or LMH regulations. Genesis has opted for the LMDh rule set, which simplifies development by utilizing chassis and hybrid systems from sanctioned suppliers. For the GMR-001, Genesis has selected a chassis from Oreca—the same supplier used by Acura and Alpine.
Cyril Abiteboul
Manufacturers must supply their own engines, and Genesis is developing a new V-8 for the GMR-001. To accelerate the process, the automaker is using a proven 1.6-liter turbo-4 from sister brand Hyundai’s successful World Rally Championship cars and combining two of them to create the V-8. Abiteboul, who has also led Hyundai’s motorsports division since 2023, is overseeing the project.
The first confirmed drivers for Genesis Magma Racing are Le Mans winner and reigning World Endurance Drivers’ Champion André Lotterer, alongside Pipo Derani. Both will assist in the GMR-001’s development through 2025 and beyond, working alongside six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx, who joined Genesis as a brand ambassador in February.
For additional drivers, Genesis has partnered with French racing team IDEC Sport to establish a driver development program. The program begins this year with an LMP2 entry in the European Le Mans Series. Initially, America’s Logan Sargeant, who was dropped from the Williams F1 team last year, was set to be one of the first drivers in the program, alongside Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert. However, Sargeant withdrew from the program last month.
