Since Hyundai’s halo brand Genesis revealed last month that it will be going prototype racing in the future with an LMDh-spec challenger, it has stayed silent on the matter. But behind the scenes, the picture is becoming clearer as its new program gradually comes together.
For this bold new project, RACER understands that Genesis is targeting entries in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for its new car. (ED: Pictured above is the Genesis X Gran Racer VGT Concept)
On timing, there is less certainty, but it seems likely at this stage that in preparation for its move into Hypercar and GTP, it will commit some resources to a 2025 LMP2 program in the European Le Mans Series. This looks set to be a ‘white-label’ effort fielded by an existing team, which will be used to bed-in crew and management and get them up to speed with ACO rules and regulations ahead of its full factory debut.
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This satellite team appears likely to be composed of current ELMS staff and a reasonable number of incoming Hyundai/Genesis personnel; some are understood to be transferring from the Hyundai WRC program. RACER is aware that several teams have been in the mix to operate this toe-in-the-water campaign, including at least one not currently in LMP2 competition.
In a wider context, the decision to go LMP2 racing first is an important one. It strongly indicates that the Genesis FIA WEC program will be undertaken by an in-house team, not a service provider.
At the time of writing, RACER believes that Genesis has now whittled down its list of prospective teams for this effort to three.
IDEC Sport and TDS Racing (Panis Racing) look to be two of the final contenders for the effort in 2025, with Romain Dumas’ RD Limited – set to make its LMP2 debut in the Asian Le Mans Series – looking like the third.
All three tick an important box: they are based in southern France and boast high-quality staff and facilities. With Genesis’ forthcoming challenger known to be designed around an ORECA chassis, running the ELMS P2 team out of France makes sense and could have a knock-on effect on program roll-out and timings.
Additionally, RACER is aware that the factory team is likely to establish its operational home in the same region. However, some functions of the effort are set to remain in Germany, the current home of Hyundai’s European and global motorsport efforts at factory and customer levels.
On the IMSA side of things, the picture looks significantly different, as Genesis is searching for an established player to act as a service provider for its GTP entries. As a result, the entire North American effort is understood to be at a less advanced point.
Who will run the IMSA program? Chip Ganassi Racing – now a free agent following its split with Cadillac – has been frequently namechecked by RACER’s sources as a team in a strong position, but it appears that a final deal has not yet been done. There are rumblings that others remain in the mix, and a surprise is not out of the question.
As for the timeline, early signs point to a 2026 competitive debut for the new car, but whether or not it will race in both championships in year one remains to be seen.
The most sensible assumption is that the WEC will be a part of that initial roll-out, as the key technical partners and the team’s administrative HQ look set to be based in Europe.
On the other side of the pond, IMSA’s season-opening stretch at Daytona and Sebring would provide two high-profile events to kick things off, but provide a major challenge for the team’s supply chain, logistics and development. This is something that the factories involved in the initial roll-out of the GTP class back in 2023 noted.
Is it possible that Genesis targets a phased roll-out in North America later in 2026, or even, with a full season of WEC racing under its belt, in 2027? Whilst nothing is certain, it seems that both options are on the table.
And whilst we are some distance away from driver selection being necessary, there appears to have been some movement already. RACER has spoken to multiple top class drivers who have been in talks and it’s distinctly possible that we might see a name or two attached to the ELMS program.
Watch this space…