The FIA World Endurance Championship season opener at Silverstone pits the three LM P1 contenders 

Genesis Magma Racing achieved a feat at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by finishing one of the world’s most gruelling motorsport races. Not only did one of their Hypercars reach the chequered flag, the team was among the leaders for several hours, amassing precious data for the pursuit of the South Korean manufacturer’s campaign.

This d&eacute;but was more than an appearance, it was a declaration of intent. As the first South Korean car manufacturer to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the first to reach the finish, Genesis has already made its mark, and attracted attention in the pit lane.

Genesis Magma Racing came to Le Mans with all the humility that is de rigeur when joining a field seasoned competitors, ready to learn, and also with the intention of racing towards their destiny. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2026-24-hours-of-le-mans-the-low-down-on-the-genesis-magma-racing-hypercar-60714" target="_blank">GMR-001-Hypercar</a>. had completed only three races before Le Mans. Yet from the beginning of the week, both cars showed that they hadn&rsquo;t come to be bystanders. They claimed P6 and P9 on the starting grid, confirming the potential that many had already sensed was there.

<h2>Uncovering potential</h2>

Motivated by a competitive spirit, Genesis Magma Racing could have been tempted to aim for the top straightaway. Instead, they opted for patience. Mastery. Rather than a quick win, they set out to build consistency and operational efficiency, proving that the two GMR-001-Hypercars could keep pace with the top teams on the grid.

Impeccable pit stops and intelligent neutralisation management helped move them through the ranks. A strategic choice to keep both cars out during a safety car period took them to the same lap as the leader, not far from the front-runners.

During the night, when the race often reveals its true nature, excellent performance from Mathieu Jaminet in the #19 and Mathys Jaubert in the #17 demonstrated a project well on the way to maturity. Genesis Magma Racing were even among the front-runners for several hours. Jaminet was in fourth place, confirming the car&rsquo;s speed.

Around 04:00, the #19 suffered a technical issue requiring a restart on track between Mulsanne Corner and Indianapolis. The same worry reappeared moments later, dashing hopes of featuring high in the classification. As for the #17, a suspension issue ended its d&eacute;but 24 Hours of Le Mans after 16 hours of racing.

Many newcomers would have been discouraged. Not Genesis Magma Racing. On the contrary, the team demonstrated the resilience required to excel in endurance racing. The team focused all their efforts on getting the #19 to the chequered flag.

After 372 laps, Paul-Loup Chatin, Mathieu Jaminet and Dani Juncadella achieved 13th place in the overall classification. The result is the culmination of hours of development, testing and teamwork.

&ldquo;It&#39;s definitely been a roller coaster for us, but that&#39;s what you expect in your first 24 Hours, as a new team, a new car. Obviously, I think we showed better pace than maybe we expected. For sure we had a couple of issues, but we fought back. [...] No one ever gave up. We just made history. The first ever Korean brand to make it to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first one for Genesis,&rdquo; said Mathieu Jaminet after the race.

<h2>The first step on the way to the top</h2>

Finishing a 24-hour race is a victory in itself. Genesis Magma Racing&rsquo;s foundational Le Mans garnered the data and experience the team needs to continue developing the GMR-001-Hypercar.

Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul&rsquo;s appraisal reveals the spirit of the project: &ldquo;Our first 24 Hours of Le Mans with Genesis Magma Racing ends on a positive note. Getting one car to the finish was our main objective. [...] The #17 unfortunately retired with suspension failure. We faced a number of reliability challenges which will be our priority moving forward. Despite this, the car showed strong potential throughout the week, especially during the first half of the race, where we were consistently fighting inside the top 10. While we faced challenges, the team showed great resilience, composure and teamwork.&rdquo;

In an exacting class, where every detail is important, and faced with experienced world-class oponents, Genesis Magma Racing have proved they are quick to learn. Andr&eacute; Lotterer, three-time winner of the French 24-hour marathon and one of the project&rsquo;s lynchpins:&nbsp;&ldquo;We definitely showed the world who Genesis is. I think we surprised a few people and achieved more than we could hope for with our new team, new car, new brand, everything. But our engine lasted, everything around it lasted until that point and we didn&#39;t have any big problems during the race which was quite remarkable. We need to study and come back stronger, but I think for our first Le Mans appearance it was very positive, especially with the sister car reaching the finish to complete the weekend.&rdquo;

The 24 Hours of Le Mans has a habit of revealing a team&rsquo;s character. Over ten days, Genesis Magma Racing have seen just how all-encompassing this event is, and sampled its joys, frustrations and demands. Above all, the fledgling team have demonstrated the ability to turn setbacks into savvy.

Chapter one in the history of Genesis at Le Mans is complete. The rest of the story already looks promising.

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2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: a promising début for Genesis Magma Racing

Last Sunday, the #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, it arrived back at its Cologne base to a fittingly warm welcome from its designers, developers and preparers.

Last Sunday, shortly after 16:00, the car crossed the finish line to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans before a crowd of tens of thousands. Today, it arrived safely back at the Toyota Racing European headquarters in Cologne, Germany, where another journey continues. It was an emotional scene, for the Hypercar has entered its name in the history books of the world&rsquo;s greatest endurance race.

Back home, the Hypercar was not only reunited with its garage, but also with the many people who helped prepare it for glory. Engineers, mechanics, technicians and logisticians gathered to welcome the triumphant machine and to celebrate their success, far from the limelight of the pit lane.

The 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans trophy takes pride of place in the Toyota Racing silver cabinet. A trophy symbolises a victory, but behind the end result are many hours of tireless work, strategic decision-making and a constant search for performance and reliability.

This year, the #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid carried the hopes and dreams of an entire team across the finish line. Driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries, the car stood up to the gruelling race, its strenuous night and unsparing opponents. The crew were bent on pushing the limits without going too far and committing an error. For a full 24 hours.

Toyota&rsquo;s collective endeavour was underlined by the sister car&rsquo;s third place. S&eacute;bastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa in the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid were shown the chequered flag a mere 20.417 seconds after the winners in a battle to the line, after 24 hours of racing.

A third Toyota displayed promise on the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans last week. The Toyota TR LH2 Racing Prototype took the track for a <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/a-first-for-liquid-hydrogen-at-le-mans-60761">demonstration</a>, much to the delight of the spectators in the grandstands and the experts in the pit lane. Kazuki Nakajima took the first liquid hydrogen prototype for a lap of the circuit in a symbolic, yet concrete demonstration of tomorrow&rsquo;s technology today.

The appearance opens up new prospects. The potential for hydrogen in racing, its stability in real conditions and potential for widespread application has been demonstrated. Taking place as it did, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the outing was a sign that this race is heading towards zero-emission endurance racing.

2026 WEC Le Mans: An Epic Victory for Toyota Racing

24 Heures du Mans 2026 : une victoire épique pour Toyota Racing

The Le Mans-winning Toyota TR010 Hybrid is welcomed home to Cologne

From P17 on the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans LMGT3 starting grid, the TF Sport #33 Corvette Z06 climbed through the ranks to clinch the win. A masterful performance from Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating handed Corvette their first win in LMGT3 and their tenth class win at Le Mans.

At the chequered flag, the #33 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R made history for the American team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car fielded by TF Sport and driven by Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating claimed the LMGT3 crown after an impressive ascent from 17th position. A victory sealed thanks to patience, clear-thinking and sustained pace, handing Corvette their first win in LMGT3 and their tenth class win at Le Mans.

<h2>Patience pays</h2>

Ben Keating began by laying the foundations. The American completed stint upon sting in the first eight hours, covering a sizeable chunk of his allotted time at the wheel. While their opponents were still settling in, TF Sport were already methodically building their race strategy.

As the night progressed, Jonny Edgar and Nicky Catsburg edged up the LMGT3 hierarchy. When dawn broke, the #33 was already among the leaders, Edgar placing the Corvette in first place in Hour 10.

Later, Catsburg increased the lead to three minutes before a safety car intervention reduced it to a handful of seconds. Nothing can ever be taken for granted.

In the closing stages, Jonny Edgar took charge. The British driver drove for a solid four hours &ndash; five stints &ndash; to take the Corvette to victory. Already a Le Mans winner at 22! This was Catsburg&rsquo;s second win and Keating&rsquo;s third.

<h2>Corvette and TF Sport &ndash; an ongoing relationship</h2>

This victory strikes a particular chord. This is Corvette Racing&rsquo;s tenth 24 Hours of Le Mans class win. Their first was in 2001. The American manufacturer&rsquo;s had not been at the top of the class since 2023, when Catsburg and Keating won LMGTE Am.

It is symbolic for TF Sport too, the fourth triumph for the British team at their tenth Le Mans.

&ldquo;What a day for General Motors and Corvette Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans!&rdquo; said Mark Reuss, Chairman of General Motors. A tenth class win for Corvette Racing at Le Mans is a super success for our design, engineering and racing teams.&rdquo;

<h2>The Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R in its element</h2>

The three drivers saluted the qualities of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R, which performed well in this year&rsquo;s conditions.

Ben Keating, who broke is elbow only nine weeks ago, emphasises the effect of the hot day: &quot;This has to be the best weather I&rsquo;ve ever seen in Le Mans, in the 12 times I&rsquo;ve done it. It was a green race. It made for really competitive racing. I think the extreme heat out there was really beneficial for our car.&quot;

Johnny Edgar had much praise for the car: &quot;I think our car is already the best on the Goodyear tyres. Especially the second stint, we could always make a difference. That&rsquo;s where we managed to grow the gap.&rdquo;

Nicky Catsburg celebrated the teamwork: &quot;Johnny Edgar did an amazing race. He was man of the match if you ask me.&quot;

Thanks to their performance, TF Sport take the lead in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGT3 Teams ahead of Vista AF Corse and Akkodis ASP Team.

This win reveals the essence of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: a collective effort, in which experience, strategy, consistency and talent come together to turn a P17 start into a fantastic triumph. For Corvette, TF Sport and their drivers, the classic race was true to form once again. The best victories are hard-fought, built up lap by lap.

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: TF Sport earns Corvette a historic LMGT3 victory

Last year’s winners Inter Europol Competition not only held on to their LMP2 crown, they took the first two places in the highly competitive class with the #43 and #343 Oreca 07-Gibsons. The performance deserves to be underlined.

Inter Europol Competition packed a mighty punch in this year&rsquo;s hard-fought 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their #43 Oreca 07-Gibson in the hands of Jakub Śmiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly triumphed in the LMP2 class followed by the #343 sister car driven by Bijoy Garg, Reshad De Gerus and Nico M&uuml;ller. The historic one-two sweep is the culmination of the Warsaw-based team&rsquo;s domination of this class, built up gradually, patiently, and painstakingly in the last few years.

<h2>Inter Europol Competition enters a new dimension</h2>

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is often compared to climbing Everest. Reaching the top once is a feat. Returning to the summit monumental. This milestone result puts Inter Europol Competition in a different class altogether.

The Polish team have established an enviable record in LMP2: three victories, two second places and five podiums in the past four years at Le Mans. More impressive still, they have not done worse than second in recent years. 
Demonstrating such consistency in the most demanding race in world endurance racing cannot be put down to luck. Behind the drivers, dozens of engineers, mechanics and tacticians have been working for months, preparing every little detail. Speed is essential at Le Mans, but it&rsquo;s not enough. You have to hold up through the night, deal with the unexpected, cope with tiredness and the constant pressure of your opponents. The 2026 race was no exception to the rule.

<h2>Triumph over tribulation</h2>

The final result gives the impression of total domination, but the race was far from run in advance. Jakub Śmiechowski: &quot;To be honest, this was one of the most difficult Le Mans races I&#39;ve experienced in recent years. I don&#39;t remember having so many issues during a race, but somehow this year luck was on our side and we managed to recover every time. We knew we had one of the fastest cars in the field, so once we got to the front I wasn&#39;t surprised that we were able to build a gap. Nick and Tom did a fantastic job as always, but I feel like today was something really exceptional from everyone involved.&quot;

The Polish driver knew his team had a major asset: a car among the fastest on the grid. The crew of the #43 gradually built on their lead thanks to faultless driving.

Tom Dillmann, winner last year with the same team, played a decisive role in the closing stages, fending off attacks from Duqueine Team and Forestier Racing by Panis. But the Frenchman and Nick Yelloly held out until the end.&ldquo;A few hours before the finish, Nick and I decided to to mount all the kerbs, to go all-out. We had to respond. It was either win or retire, and it we got the win,&rdquo; says Tom Dillmann.

This victory is particularly special for Dilmann. The French driver lost his father in September. &ldquo;I wore my father&rsquo;s yellow colours on my helmet, as a tribute to him. I&rsquo;m very proud to have won the greatest race ever with his colours.&rdquo;

<h2>The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the scene of historic feats</h2>

Aside from the championship points, this result reveals what sets the 24 Hours of Le Mans apart. Behind every trophy there&rsquo;s a story of people, the risks they take, and the depth of feeling you just don&rsquo;t get elsewhere.

Nick Yelloly sums it up. &quot;[We had] the same team, the same line-up as last year. To do it back to back is pretty special, it&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ll remember for the rest of my life.&rdquo;

The <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-reveals-the-names-of-the-2027-hypercar-driver-crews-60778">future Ford Hypercar driver</a> was full of praise for his teammate. &ldquo;In my opinion, Tom Dillman was the man of today. He was absolutely flying and I was more than happy to leave him in at the end of the race and let him do his business.&rdquo;

The #343 crew added to the joy by bringing Inter Europol Competition their first one-two in LMP2. A collective reward for the outfit managed by Wojciech Śmiechowski.

At Le Mans, some victories mark a race. Other mark a whole era. Inter Europol Competition&rsquo;s one-two falls in the second category. The Polish team has just written a chapter in the annals of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

2026 24 Hours of Le Mans: a historic one-two finish in LMP2 for Inter Europol Competition

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