Genesis Magma Racing will compete in the headline hypercar category of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship in a two-car effort with support from Hyundai Motorsport.
The South Korean manufacturer, the world’s third-largest carmaker, teased new projects for the premium brand back in September, and today the Genesis Magma Racing was officially launched in Dubai, demonstrating Hyundai’s bold vision for the future of high-performance luxury.
The announcement heralds Genesis’ motorsports debut, with Hyundai Motorsport President Cyril Abiteboul, who won the FIA World Rally Championship with Thierry Neuville, taking on the role of team principal. An exclusive full-length interview with the Frenchman will be published tomorrow (5 December) on the FIA WEC YouTube channel.
“The official launch of Genesis Magma Racing is a very important event,” admitted the experienced Frenchman.
“As the backbone of Hyundai Motor Group’s global motorsport activities, Hyundai Motorsport will play a key role in this ambitious program. We are taking circuit racing expertise to a whole new level.”
By participating in the FIA WEC, Genesis joins an elite group of manufacturers competing for success on the world’s most prestigious and demanding stages. This move marks a significant milestone for the brand and demonstrates its ability to innovate while maintaining its commitment to luxury and sustainability.
“This entry into motorsports is a natural evolution for Genesis,” said Luc Donckerwolke, the company’s chief creative officer. _“As we strive to push the boundaries of our brand, motorsports allows us to bring the ultra-fast spirit that drives how we create and innovate in a way that perfectly aligns with our core values: bold, progressive and uniquely Korean. ”
FIA World Endurance Champion André Lotterer and two-time IMSA title winner Luis ‘Pipo’ Derani have been revealed as the team’s first two drivers and will focus on technical development duties and simulator sessions throughout 2025 before entering the battle for Genesis. 2026.
Lotterer and Derani will take to the track in the Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar, an impressive high-performance prototype that embodies the brand’s ‘Athletic Elegance’ design philosophy. The GMR-001 was developed by Genesis Design Europe under Donckerwolke’s leadership and heralds a powerful new era for the company’s performance vehicles.
As it prepares for its FIA WEC debut in 2026, the team will partner with IDEC SPORT to showcase its LMP2 entry in the 2025 European Le Mans Series. It features a promising line-up comprised of emerging talent including Logan Sargeant (USA) and Jamie. Chadwick (United Kingdom) and 19-year-old Matisse Jobert (France).
Genesis Magma Racing will consolidate its operations at its permanent strategic base at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France, leveraging its proximity to endurance specialists ORECA Motorsport and IDEC SPORT to streamline collaboration.
