Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai, is making a big venture into international motorsports by establishing its Genesis Magma Racing team. Genesis has revealed its in-depth plan to compete in the most prestigious endurance race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with its debut planned in 2026, announced in June 2025. Although it is not a competitor in the Hypercar category this year, the early presence at Le Mans of Genesis Magma Racing is the start of a long-term strategy to create a powerful impact on the international racing scene.
Building the GMR-001 Hypercar
The GMR-001 Hypercar is the core of the program of Genesis Magma Racing, as it is developed to participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and further at Le Mans. The pace of the development of this state-of-the-art vehicle has picked up considerably, and the team recently finished a successful endurance dyno test of the powertrain.
The GMR-001 has a turbocharged V-8 engine that is a hybrid of two of the proven 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engines that Hyundai Motorsport used in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in the past. The use of such an innovative approach enables Genesis to leverage the experience of its parent company in motorsport to develop a unique high-performance platform applicable in endurance racing.
The design of the Hypercar also features hybrid technology, which is essential in the current endurance racing, with the WEC still favoring energy efficiency in addition to outright speed. The GMR-001 features a bright orange livery, which was first unveiled earlier this year, and reflects the Magma design language and Korean culture inspiration with the word Magma written in Hangeul lettering prominently featured.
Expanding Genesis Motorsports and New Headquarters
Genesis has already extended the operations of Hyundai Motorsport to help it achieve its ambitious racing ambitions, with a new home for Genesis Magma Racing taking shape in Le Castellet, France. The venue was carefully chosen due to its closeness to Oreca, the French racing manufacturer that is providing the chassis of the LMDh Hypercar. Such tight cooperation leads to a more comfortable development process and access to vital technical resources.
Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul made the point that the team is being assembled using “solid components wherever we can get them.” With the transfer of Hyundai’s know-how in rallying, Oreca’s racing technology, and an expert team of motorsport professionals of various nationalities, Genesis is targeting to establish a very competitive Hypercar program almost entirely.
Assembling a World-Class Team
At the press conference held at Le Mans, Genesis presented some of the key figures of its racing team, which comprises a wealth of experience in the entire motorsport world. Anouck Abadie has been appointed as Team Manager, as she has previous experience with FIA and other endurance racing teams, including Kessel Racing. Abadie will be a key participant in the logistical and operational management of the team.
Justin Taylor is made Chief Engineer. Taylor has worked as a race engineer on the top teams in IMSA and WEC, having worked with Ferrari and the Chip Ganassi Cadillac racing team. His experience in endurance racing at the top level will prove to be priceless as Genesis gets ready to compete with its Hypercar.
Gaining Experience in LMP2
Even though Genesis Magma Racing is not set to start in the Hypercar category until 2026, it is obtaining precious experience at Le Mans by racing in the LMP2 category now. The team joined forces with IDEC Sport and entered the #18 Oreca 07 car in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jamie Chadwick, Mathys Jaubert, and three-time Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer make up the driver lineup.
Chadwick and Jaubert participate in the trajectory development programme of Genesis Magma Racing, a programme aimed at developing young drivers and technical personnel who are ready to compete in the highest level of endurance racing. The two drivers have previously tasted success in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), winning the LMP2 class during the earlier part of the year. This on-track experience at Le Mans will help Genesis to tune its operations before a full Hypercar entry next year.
Expanding the Genesis Brand in Europe
Beyond motorsports, Genesis is using its racing program as a platform to expand its brand presence in Europe. Alongside its racing announcement, Genesis confirmed plans to enter four new European markets: France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. Customer deliveries are expected to begin in 2026, aligning with the timing of the Magma Racing team’s Hypercar debut.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
Genesis Magma Racing’s roadmap is ambitious but carefully planned. The team aims to complete on-track testing of the GMR-001 Hypercar by the end of 2025, preparing for its first full WEC season in 2026. After debuting in the WEC, Genesis has its sights set on entering the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship by 2027, further extending its global racing footprint.
While Genesis Magma Racing faces stiff competition from more established manufacturers, its calculated approach, strong technical partnerships, and experienced leadership offer a solid foundation.
