24h Le Mans
Genesis Magma Racing has transformed a dream into reality in less than 500 days. Hyundai's luxury line is approaching its rookie 24 Hours of Le Mans methodically and with humility but big ambitions. Here is a look at a carefully crafted recipe to take on the world’s greatest endurance race.
There is no fast track to conquering Le Mans. It takes patience, inspiration and individuals capable of working together toward a common goal. Genesis Magma Racing understands the assignment. As it prepares for its first 24 Hours, the South Korean marque has developed a meticulously curated project, fuelled by experience and driven by the need to learn quickly. The two GMR-001-Hypercars entered in the 94th running of the race represent more than a new name on the starting grid, they are the result of a specific vision.
September 2024: Genesis officially announces its participation in the Hypercar class. Three months later, the GMR-001-Hypercar is unveiled. In July 2025, its 3.2-litre twin-turbo V8 G8MR engine roars to life for the very first time. Then come the testing sessions, accumulated kilometres and nights spent understanding the car down to the smallest detail.
On 19 April, Genesis Magma Racing took its first start in an FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) race, the 6 Hours of Imola, less than 500 days after the initial announcement. On 9 May, the constructor earned its first points at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
Ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the GMR-001-Hypercar has covered more than 25,000 km of tests, a crucial achievement because in endurance racing, driving means learning. Paul-Loup Chatin (#19 Genesis GMR-001-Hypercar driver): We need to be as productive as possible throughout the testing sessions. We have conducted several endurance tests to simulate a 24-hour race, so we are arriving with some experience under our belts. Even so, no test can match the reality of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Genesis has been preparing for its first appearance in the iconic race exactly how it should, with diligence and without skipping any steps.
Building a competitive Hypercar also means knowing how to seek help from the best of the best. The team entrusted its chassis to ORECA, a top contender in modern endurance racing. It's a strategic choice shared by other major names in the discipline, such as Alpine and Ford, the latter of which will begin competing in 2027.
The project's true strength is the people behind it. At the helm is Cyril Abiteboul bringing top-tier experience gained in Formula 1 then rally with Hyundai Motorsport. His right-hand man is chief engineer Justin Taylor supervising the technical side of the programme along with sporting director Gabriele Tarquini and team manager Hanouk Abadie handling the day-to-day.
Genesis has opted for experience behind the wheel as well. Three-time Le Mans winner André Lotterer is not just a fast driver. His 14 appearances — including 13 in the top class — are an immeasurable asset for a rookie team in such an unforgiving environment. The addition of Mathieu Jaminet further reinforces this strength. An expert in LMDh prototypes, specifically the Porsche 963, the French driver offers a technical understanding of the class, driver’s intuition and knowledge of top-level competition. At Genesis, performance is fostered through collaborative effort.
For its rookie start in the race, Genesis Magma Racing makes no secret of its approach: be humble.
The goal is for both cars to cross the finish line. This participation is meant to introduce the marque to the world of endurance racing and understand what Le Mans truly demands. It's about mastering the sheer length of the race, navigating the night hours and various temperature changes, physical exhaustion and split-second decisions.
What is clear to everyone in the paddock is that simply finishing your first 24 Hours is an achievement in itself. And if one of the GMR-001 Hypercars were to pass under the chequered flag on the same lap as the winner, it would be an outstanding result and an ideal foundation for the future.
When can Genesis Magma Racing start to set its sights on an overall win? Chatin: We have to be realistic. The most important thing is to keep building this project so that we can say we are coming to win. We will say that when we are truly ready. But, everything is in place to ensure our success.
The team's project is being built methodically, driven by recognised talent and honed over thousands of kilometres, yet remaining humble enough to recognise the Le Mans classic for the beast it is.
