Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Hypercar Project is Racing Ahead [w/video]

It was just a few months ago that Hyundai announced it would be entering the world of endurance racing with its luxury arm Genesis. Read our original article by clicking here. The GMR-001 Hypercar project is racing ahead with the first shakedown of the car already complete.

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We are at a time, where we seem to be passing milestones every day, but this is exactly what we must be doing. After planning for and talking about these moments for the last eight months, to be able to see a finished car running exactly as we planned is incredibly exciting. We are also starting the process of moving into the new Genesis Magma Racing facility at Le Castellet. The start of testing is the beginning of bringing the different streams of work together — the design and development of the chassis, the design and development of the engine, equipping a workshop and building the team
– Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing team principal

WRC Lessons

The Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 engine has already been fired up (as you can see in the video below). The GMR-001 will use a twin-turbocharged V8, as with some other rivals in the FIA WEC field. It will also feature the same supplied hybrid system that other teams use. The V8 takes lessons learned from Hyundai’s participation in the WRC. This new engine has now been slotted into the Oreca monocoque for final assembly. Oreca is Genesis’ technical partner on this project.

Once the powertrain was installed the car was handed over to Genesis Magma Racing. Works drivers drivers André Lotterer and Pipo Derani have already taken the car on its first shakedown laps in preparation for a full test. The team will embark on an extensive testing schedule at circuits around Europe ahead of the car’s 2026 debut.

Genesis’ entry marks the first for a Korean brand in the top-flight world of endurance racing. It is the latest in a long line of automakers that has seen benefits from competing in this series. Another newcomer that will soon enter the field is McLaren, which made the annoucement just ahead of the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. The current field includes: Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota.