Luxury carmaker Genesis is gunning for endurance-racing glory in 2026.
The company revealed its plan to compete at the pinnacle of endurance racing with the launch of its new motor sport team Genesis Magma Racing (GMR). GMR will contest the world’s greatest endurance race, the Le Mans 24 Hours, with its new GMR-001 Hypercar.
Earlier this year, Genesis launched its Magma sub-brand to create sportier versions of its current models. Complementing Magma with the launch of GMR signals that the Korean manufacturer is making a concerted effort to build its racing pedigree. It’s an interesting development for a luxury brand that is going all-in on EVs in 2025.
GMR will be led by ex-Renault Formula 1 boss Cyril Abiteboul. It will field two LMDh Hypercars in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) from 2026, and in the International Motorsports Association series (IMSA) from 2027.
The Korean manufacturer is making a concerted effort to build its racing pedigree
Reigning WEC Champion André Lotterer will drive alongside Luis Derani for GMR in the WEC series, and they are currently providing feedback for the GMR-001’s development. The GMR-001 was designed by Genesis’s chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke, who previously created cars for the likes of Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini.
“This entry into motor sport is a natural evolution for Genesis,” Donckerwolke explained. “As we look to push the boundaries of our brand, motor sport allows us to bring the spirit of Hyperspeed – which is how we create and innovate – in a way that perfectly aligns with our core values: audacious, progressive and distinctly Korean.”
Although Genesis has released images of its new endurance racer, which sports an aggressive rear wing and cavernous diffuser, the car’s technical details are largely being kept under wraps. It’s therefore unclear what kind of hybrid engine will power the GMR-001 – particularly as its rivals’ powertrains range from V6s to V12s.
Rumour has it that the GMR-001 will be powered by a turbocharged V8 derived from the engine Genesis’s parent company Hyundai developed for its WRC programme. Whatever the powertrain turns out to be, the rules dictate that up to 698bhp must be sent to the rear wheels. Minimum weight is 1030kg.
By entering the WEC and IMSA series, Genesis follows rivals such as Cadillac, BMW, Porsche, Aston Martin, Alpine and Ferrari. Before its LMdH programme kicks into gear in 2026, GMR will field an LMP2 car in the European Le Mans Series in 2025. The LMP2 car will be driven by former Williams F1 racer Logan Sargeant and three-time W-Series champion Jamie Chadwick.
“The official launch of Genesis Magma Racing is a momentous occasion,” said Cyril Abiteboul. “We are elevating our circuit-racing expertise to a whole new level as we prepare to compete in some of the world’s most challenging series.”
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