Genesis announced plans last December to enter top-level endurance racing with a new factory team and race car.
On Friday, the automaker confirmed that its race car, named the GMR-001, will debut in April, with testing beginning in August.
Genesis Magma Racing will field the car under team principal Cyril Abiteboul, former managing director of the Renault Formula 1 team. The team plans to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship as early as 2026, followed by the IMSA SportsCar Championship the next year. Entry into the FIA series means Genesis will vie for the overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Competing at the top level requires building a car to either LMDh or LMH regulations for the Hypercar and GTP classes. Genesis chose the LMDh rule set, which streamlines development through sanctioned chassis and hybrid system suppliers. For the GMR-001, Genesis 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 development, the automaker combines two proven 1.6-liter turbo-4 engines from sister brand Hyundai's successful World Rally Championship program. Abiteboul, who has also led Hyundai's motorsports division since 2023, oversees 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 support the GMR-001's development through 2025 and beyond, working with six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx, who joined Genesis as a brand ambassador in February.
Genesis has also partnered with French racing team IDEC Sport to establish a driver development program, beginning this year with an LMP2 entry in the European Le Mans Series. Originally, America's Logan Sargeant, dropped from the Williams F1 team last year, was set to join the program alongside Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert. However, Sargeant withdrew last month.