Genesis is making a significant impact in the motorsports arena with the introduction of its new racing team, Genesis Magma Racing, which will primarily compete in high-level endurance racing featuring the new GMR-001 Hypercar race car.
Unveiled on Wednesday, this race car adheres to LMDh regulations, granting it eligibility in the respective GTP and Hypercar classes of the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
According to Genesis, the GMR-001 is set to debut in the World Endurance Championship by 2026, with an entry in the SportsCar Championship the following year. This development positions the vehicle to face off against competitors from brands such as Acura, Cadillac, Ferrari, Porsche, and Toyota, and sets Genesis on a path to pursue overall victories in prestigious races like the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Genesis Magma Racing plans to enter two cars in each series. The first drivers announced include Le Mans champion and current World Endurance Drivers’ Champion André Lotterer, alongside Pipo Derani. Both will play a crucial role in the car’s development through 2025 and beyond.
While Genesis has not disclosed extensive details about the GMR-001, it has confirmed that the chassis will come from Oreca, one of four approved suppliers for LMDh chassis. Under LMDh regulations, constructors enjoy flexibility in selecting their powertrain, though the maximum output is restricted to 670 hp.
Most current LMDh vehicles utilize a combination of a gasoline engine and a solitary motor-generator. A similar configuration was featured in the Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo concept revealed in June and may influence the development of future Magma models.
Genesis X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo concept
Hyundai Motorsport, which oversees Hyundai N’s initiatives across various rally and touring car competitions, will manage the Genesis Magma Racing team. Cyril Abiteboul, a former senior manager at the Caterham and Renault Formula 1 teams, leads Hyundai Motorsport and will serve as the team principal for Genesis Magma Racing.
French racing outfit IDEC Sport will also lend support to Genesis Magma Racing. This collaboration is expected to kick off next year with an LMP2 entry in the European Le Mans Series. Logan Sargeant from the United States, who was recently let go from the Williams F1 team, will be among the drivers, joining Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert.
Genesis has previously stated that the LMDh program will aid in the development of future technologies for its road vehicles while also enhancing the brand’s performance image, which is increasingly essential as Genesis readies to introduce automobiles under the new Magma performance sub-brand.
This Magma sub-brand is being positioned to compete with established rivals like BMW M and Mercedes-Benz AMG, with Genesis planning to introduce a Magma version for each model in its lineup. Anticipated performance enhancements may include increased power, track-focused suspension, and practical aerodynamic elements. Racing icon Jacky Ickx is contributing to the development of these vehicles.
Image Source: Genesis_Worldwide @ YouTube
