Genesis is making a daring leap into the world of motorsports, and the Genesis Magma Racing (GMR) staff is losing no time in getting ready for its high-profile debut. With plans to compete within the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA) in 2027, Genesis is setting the stage to problem a few of the most established names in endurance racing, together with Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.
On the coronary heart of this bold undertaking is Staff Principal Cyril Abiteboul, a seasoned motorsports veteran recognized for his management in Formulation 1 and past. In a current interview with Genesis Newsroom, Abiteboul detailed the challenges and improvements behind the GMR-001 Hypercar, a cutting-edge race machine that goals to redefine efficiency in endurance racing.
One of the bold components of Genesis Magma Racing’s growth has been the creation of a brand-new V8 powertrain for its ORECA-built LMDh chassis—a vital step towards constructing a aggressive endurance racing program.
“The most important problem is admittedly the time now we have accessible,” Abiteboul defined. “Constructing a path is a problem, however [it’s] additionally discovering the precise facility and constructing a staff. We have to have a bunch of 60 individuals who don’t but exist. We additionally have to have the precise gear for them to function.”
As a substitute of designing an engine totally from the bottom up, Genesis took inspiration from Hyundai Motor Group’s profitable 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, which has confirmed itself within the World Rally Championship. The end result? A V8 energy unit derived from this confirmed platform, delivering a mix of effectivity, sturdiness, and uncooked energy fitted to the grueling calls for of endurance racing.
“One other large problem, from a timing and engineering perspective, is the powertrain,” mentioned Abiteboul. “And anybody who is aware of about engines will admire that we solely had six months to develop a whole engine. We elected to go along with a V8, exactly as a result of the V8 was a terrific alternative to not have to revamp a whole engine from scratch and as a substitute take inspiration from our present WRC engine, a really aggressive 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four that we’ve been utilizing for a number of years. We took that engine and made it two occasions 4 in line, which supplies us a V8.”
Past the automobile itself, Genesis Magma Racing is constructing a completely new racing group from the bottom up—one thing Abiteboul describes as equally difficult and thrilling.
“Constructing the staff collectively and placing the totally different constructing blocks collectively is a problem as a result of nothing existed at first,” he mentioned. “It’s not only a automobile that we have to construct. It’s a racing staff. A corporation. A brand new id.”
To realize this bold purpose, Genesis has partnered with ORECA, a French engineering powerhouse with many years of expertise in endurance racing. ORECA has been instrumental in designing and growing a few of the best prototype and Hypercar-class race automobiles in fashionable historical past. Their experience will assist information Genesis Magma Racing in optimizing the GMR-001’s aerodynamics, chassis efficiency, and total race technique.
“We’re very fortunate to have ORECA as a accomplice,” Abiteboul added. “They’ve been designing endurance racing automobiles for many years, and their expertise can be invaluable as we push ahead with growth.”
With the GMR-001 Hypercar nonetheless within the early phases of growth, Genesis Magma Racing is quickly increasing its infrastructure. The staff is actively assembling a core group of 60 prime engineers, designers, and strategists who will lead the model’s cost onto the worldwide racing stage. Whereas a lot work stays, Genesis Magma Racing is on an aggressive timeline, proving that velocity isn’t only for the racetrack—it’s a tenet in each step of the staff’s journey.
