How Genesis is ramping up for Hypercar with ELMS partnership

Genesis’ new LMDh program – which is set to debut in 2026 in the FIA World Endurance Championship and 2027 in IMSA – may seem a long way off, but the timeline to make it a reality is shorter than you might think. The 2025 calendar year is set to be …

Genesis’ new LMDh program — which is set to debut in 2026 in the FIA World Endurance Championship and 2027 in IMSA — may seem a long way off, but the timeline to make it a reality is shorter than you might think. The 2025 calendar year is set to be so busy for Genesis Magma Racing, as it tests and develops the GMR-001 and prepares for its global debut on the world stage.

Some of that work will be done in public. The GMR-001 will almost certainly be captured out running once track testing gets underway over the summer and it approaches homologation. And a good chunk of Genesis’ staff will be in the public eye throughout the year competing in the European Le Mans Series with partner team IDEC Sport.

The French title-winning LMP2 team is set to help assist Genesis’ band of LMDh engineers and mechanics throughout the 2025 season by embedding them in its two-car program with the ORECA 07.

The decision made by Genesis to dip its toe into the ACO racing water this way before joining the world championship may seem odd on the face of it, but when you dig a little deeper, it’s entirely sensible.

“Last year I contacted Cyril (Abiteboul, the Genesis Magma Racing team principal) because I wanted to meet him,” said IDEC Sport boss Nicolas Minassian told reporters at the Genesis program launch in Dubai. “He is someone who has done great things in his life. At that time I didn’t even know they were going to do this type of racing. Then when they announced they were going to, we stayed in contact because there was synergy there.”

That led to an official partnership being agreed on, with Genesis understandably keen to tap into IDEC’s knowledge and expertise of racing with LMPs in ACO-sanctioned series.

Minassian noted that IDEC Sport’s location — a stone’s throw from ORECA’s headquarters and Circuit Paul Ricard — was another key selling point for the young South Korean brand.

“We know Le Mans, the regulations, we have a relationship with the ACO and FIA. It means they don’t have to start from scratch,” he said. “And as everything moved forward, the choice to go to ORECA and set up near Paul Ricard, with our knowledge of racing in sports cars in LMP2, makes sense.

“We are here to guide them, to help them put it all together. You don’t do it by clicking a finger.”

IDEC Sport’s LMP2 cars will provide Genesis an opportunity to gain practical race experience and consider potential drivers while its Hypercar preparations continue.  JEP/Motorsport Images

For next season, the ELMS is heavily oversubscribed, with a record 44-car full-season entry across its LMP2, LMP3 and LMGT3 classes and a reserve list featuring quality teams and drivers that failed to make the cut. However, IDEC was granted a second LMP2 entry for 2025, meaning it will return to competing as a two-car team in the top class for the first time since 2021.

This new relationship for the team has coincided with a wider plan. IDEC’s vision for 2025 included scaling up to a two-car effort in LMP2 before its Genesis partnership was confirmed. It is clear that the French team has ambitions to follow some of its rivals in the ELMS paddock like WRT, Signatech and JOTA by graduating to Hypercar with a service provider contract for a factory team.

“We were going to go with two cars anyway,” he revealed. “In the end, the priority was to have the Genesis car on the grid, and we filled up a second entry.

“It was planned for a long time, but it’s difficult to get an entry now in the ELMS. We had two cars in the past and as we were not going to run in LMP3 we looked at two in LMP2. We did two in 2018,’ 19,’ 20 and ’21. And we want to stay like this.”

This arrangement has also enabled Genesis to place drivers it is keeping an eye on in a relevant affiliated race program as its LMDh project gains steam.

IDEC’s No. 18 will be shared by ex-F1 driver Logan Sargeant, former W Series champion Jamie Chadwick and French up-and-comer Mathys Jaubert. All three have been nominated by Genesis’ following consultation with IDEC.

The driver line-up certainly turned heads when it was revealed. All three, according to Abiteboul, are being evaluated and will have a fair chance to earn a place in Genesis’ factory stable in the future. Minassian is looking forward to helping all three get up to speed.

“The great thing is that there is a conversation,” he said. “We are working together — they are not imposing things. They want to give opportunities to drivers.

“To give a chance to a young driver from a different background is a great way to forge someone. Logan was their idea. Jamie, we spoke about and we tested them. They adapted quickly and were fast. And Mathys is a surprise, with no single-seaters, just Porsche Cup and Caterham 7s, now he’s going to be in an LMP2.

“It’s about exploring drivers. The target is not just to go and win, the target is to develop drivers.”

Once the ELMS season gets underway, the IDEC drivers will work closely with Genesis staff. Minassian confirmed the on-site personnel at each event will be split evenly between Genesis and IDEC staff

“It will be a mix. There is one car with more people, but some Genesis people will be on the other car. In each area of the car, there will be an experienced person from IDEC,” he said. “Even if some of them haven’t done the ELMS or Le Mans, they will be with someone who has done it. This gives them real experience.”

Genesis LMDh launch makes its level of commitment clear

Genesis’ LMDh program launch at the base of the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – in Dubai felt like a statement of intent. The presentation was slick and impressive, truly a sight to behold. It delivered the message that Genesis Magma …

Genesis’ LMDh program launch at the base of the Burj Khalifa — the world’s tallest building — in Dubai felt like a statement of intent. The presentation was slick and impressive, truly a sight to behold. It delivered the message that Genesis Magma Racing doesn’t intend to do anything by half measure when it goes racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the years to come.

After sharing the overall vision for the program and taking the wraps off a scale model of its WEC and IMSA-bound GMR-001, Genesis’ senior management and drivers, plus representatives from partners ORECA and IDEC Sport, spoke at length to the media. Perhaps the most crucial soundbite came when RACER asked Cyril Abiteboul, the Genesis Magma Racing team principal, about the length of Genesis’ commitment to this new venture.

Choosing to join a formula multiple years into a regulation cycle was always going to be a challenge, but Abiteboul feels Genesis has the right mentality to succeed. He stressed that the young South Korean brand is coming because it intends to build something.

Asked if Genesis was committed through to the end of the regulation cycle, which was extended earlier this year through to the end of 2029, he replied, “Absolutely! In WRC [with Hyundai] we’ve had 12 years of continuity. When we enter something, we do it to make it work and secondly, with stability. We know that performance takes time to develop.

“We are not here to do one thing and move on to something else. We are here to stay, to do a good job, to be competitive and build up the narrative. If you switch your program every year or every other year, you don’t build.

“We are building a race team in Paul Ricard, moving facilities in the Frankfurt area to one that is a better fit for this type of program. So moving more than 200 people, you do not do that for a short-term program.”

To get this project off the ground quickly, Genesis has already had to make a number of key decisions. First, it opted to go down the LMDh route rather than LMH for its prototype. This allows it to lean on its chassis partner ORECA for expertise and utilize a twin-turbo V8 engine based on Hyundai’s WRC unit with the spec LMDh hybrid system from Bosch as a shortcut.

“We looked into that (LMH),” Abiteboul said. “We need to be humble, pragmatic and realistic about the learning curve. We are not strangers to circuit racing because we (Hyundai) do TCR, but the difference between that and prototype racing is big.

“So we need to start with a set of regulations that is most accessible. Maybe in the future, there will be another step, but it’s all about taking the right step at the right time.”

Genesis has also opted to stagger its entries into Hypercar and GTP, debuting as a factory in WEC in 2026 before joining IMSA in 2027. This isn’t because it sees less value in IMSA or the North American market but because it recognizes how tough it would be for a manufacturer new to endurance racing to dive head-first into two championships at the same time.

ORECA founder Hugues de Chaunac agrees it’s a sensible decision. “One of the key points of the WEC is the Le Mans 24 Hours, and it’s one of the biggest targets,” he said. “The dream is to win Le Mans, so to start with the WEC I think makes sense. To win Le Mans you need two years minimum to understand everything, so it’s the normal choice to start with WEC in year one.”

This really is a project that was green-lit at the 11th hour. It wasn’t signed off until Sept. 1 this year, meaning everything will need to come together in just 16 months to make the 2026 WEC season opener.

Luc Donckerwolke — the Hyundai Motor Group’s president and chief creative officer — shared that he first put the wheels in motion 18 months ago, when he invited Abiteboul to his design studio to discuss his dream of having Genesis race at Le Mans.

When Genesis was looking for an entry point into motorsport, Formula 1 and Formula E were both on the table. But in the end, a top-class endurance racing program was seen as the most logical route to achieving internal goals.

“Two months ago, I pitched the idea to our top leadership about entering endurance racing,” he said. “And in three days, including a weekend, I got approval for what could become a defining moment for a brand.

“We introduced different categories to the board and explained the level of investment. And it was the point of no return — either we start, or we don’t do it. It’s now that we had a slot to enter, with this calendar and level of investment. The answer was yes.

“We’d already been discussing with Hugues (de Chaunac) about how to do it and I’d sent my team of designers to him before the decision. So I had to do it — I told them to go flat out. It was a strategic decision.

“It is very important for us to race and to get a return on investment. I don’t mean on marketing, I mean on technological know-how and inspiration for design. That’s why we are motivated to enter this category of motor racing.

“It’s technology, aerodynamic research that’s more applicable than open-wheel racing. This is why we believe in endurance. And we want to make sure we have a step between normal products, the Magma products — which is high performance — and motorsport.”

The next 12 months are set to be crucial for all involved. Through 2025, Genesis will set up its race base, begin track testing its car and make a number of decisions regarding it IMSA program and driver roster, all while competing with IDEC Sport in the European Le Mans Series to prepare for its WEC debut.

RACER asked Abiteboul when Genesis will need to make a final call on who will operate its GTP cars.

“We were in Petit Le Mans (back in October) having discussions with interested parties,” he said. “We understand that they would like to know as early as possible. But we have a bit of time; we want to make the right choice. It’s a decision to be made in Q2 of 2025 — that’s a timeline we have shared with most of the people we have met. It’s workable for everyone.

“The one thing we really want is people with experience of the IMSA championship. I would feel much more comfortable. Prototype experience is not a must. It’s going to be down to a cultural fit. We want a one-team approach, with everyone talking to each other. I want a partner who is prepared to embrace what we are doing in WEC and build something.”

On the driver front, it’s a similar story. There are important choices to be made in the months ahead to ensure that its drivers in the WEC and IMSA give it the best chance to win each race weekend.

Are the three drivers set to race with IDEC Sport on behalf of Genesis in the ELMS (Logan Sargeant, Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert), all being considered for full-time factory seats?

“We have multiple choices of endurance drivers, lots of them who deserve it,” Abiteboul said. “But we wanted to give an opportunity to drivers who may not normally be considered. We are assessing the combination, it’s an expression of what we want to do in the sport.

“But we have to recognize that we are just three months into this process. It’s in their hands — it’s up to them to show what they are capable of doing in fair conditions. We want to offer them a fair chance to prove their worth, whether it’s a reserve or race job, who knows? It could be a one- or two-year plan, we don’t know.”

With a chassis partner selected, a car concept being worked on, an engine solution found, and the foundations for a driver crew laid, Genesis looks well-placed to become a key addition to the Hypercar and GTP grids at first glance. Abiteboul though, is under no illusions that winning races, titles and of course, Le Mans, will be no simple task.

“Discussions we’ve had with Hugues [de Chaunac] and ORECA have been instrumental. When it comes to different elements, we know ORECA clearly has the playbook on how to build this kind of car, and competitive cars.

“The crucial point is on the powertrain side. If you look at how our competitors were when they started their program, they already had their engines up and running. So that’s why we decided to go for that shortcut of using the WRC engine as a base engine — it may sound strange, but it’s a good shortcut. That side is critical, but there is a way forward.

“The other thing is the team side. It’s not just making up the numbers or filling an organization chart for the sake of it — we need the right people and that takes time. That’s why the partnership with IDEC Sport is quite crucial. We wanted a fast track on the process. We hope we are doing the right strategy to mitigate those risks.

“It’s a big challenge, but we accept it.”

Genesis officially launches LMDh program

South Korean automotive manufacturer Genesis fully launched its top-class prototype sports car program this evening with a large-scale presentation in Dubai. At the event, the brand revealed its team name (Genesis Magma Racing), its new car (the …

South Korean automotive manufacturer Genesis fully launched its top-class prototype sports car program this evening with a large-scale presentation in Dubai.

At the event, the brand revealed its team name (Genesis Magma Racing), its new car (the GMR-001), its first two drivers (Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani) and outlined its plans to compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the coming years.

The GMR-001, renderings of which were shown for the first time during the announcement, is an LMDh-spec prototype based on an ORECA chassis. It will compete in the FIA WEC first in 2026, before joining IMSA’s GTP class with two cars and a to-be-announced partner team in 2027. Track testing will start next summer.

In line with the other LMDh chassis produced in recent years, its bodywork features key styling cues from the brand’s road car range, including Genesis’ signature “Two Lines lighting” on the front and rear, a “sweeping parabolic line” on its sides and numerous additional nods to its Magma road car concept cars, which were also on display at the launch.

The car’s design concept was produced by Genesis Design Europe under the leadership of Luc Donckerwolke, the brand’s chief creative officer.

“This entry into motorsport is a natural evolution for Genesis,” said Donckerwolke. “As we look to push the boundaries of our brand, motorsport allows us to bring the spirit of hyperspeed — which drives how we create and innovate — in a way that aligns perfectly with our core values: Audacious, progressive, and distinctly Korean.

“The GMR-001 Hypercar and our Magma models represent a fusion of Genesis’ performance ambitions with our design-driven DNA. From the intense orange of Magma, symbolizing Korean passion and energy, to the precision engineering behind each component, we are entering a new chapter where speed meets elegance.”

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For this new venture Genesis team will be backed by Hyundai Motorsport, with Cyril Abiteboul acting as team principal for Genesis Magma Racing in addition to his roles as Hyundai Motorsport team principal and president.

“The official launch of Genesis Magma Racing is a momentous occasion,” said Abiteboul. “As the backbone of Hyundai Motor Group’s global motorsport activities, Hyundai Motorsport will play a vital role in this latest ambitious program. We are elevating our circuit racing expertise to a whole new level as we prepare to compete in some of the world’s most challenging series.”

Andre Lotterer (left) and Pipo Derani

As for the drivers, two were revealed and on hand. Former Cadillac factory ace Derani and ex-Porsche Penske Motorsport Hypercar driver Lotterer have been signed and bring a wealth of top-class prototype experience to the team. They will take on test and development duties before racing the GMR-001 in 2026.

“I am beyond thrilled and thankful to join the Genesis brand for its entry into endurance racing,” said Lotterer, who will have a chance to win a third WEC drivers’ title with a third manufacturer (after Audi and Porsche) when this new chapter with Genesis begins.

“After winning the FIA Hypercar World Endurance drivers’ championship this year, this opportunity is the perfect fit for me to channel my work, experience, passion and motivation into a new project with a team of highly ambitious individuals. I am excited to start working on this project and build a successful future from the very beginning.”

Two-time IMSA champion Derani added: “The ambition behind Genesis’s endurance racing project and the track record of those involved was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. As a driver, being involved in a project from the start is highly rewarding.

“I look forward to bringing my experience of developing cars and winning titles to the team. Given the competitiveness of LMDh, it will be a big challenge, but I believe all the necessary ingredients are here to make this endurance journey successful.”

Before Genesis Magma Racing competes in the FIA WEC for the first time, it will spend the 2025 season competing in the European Le Mans Series’ LMP2 class with partner team IDEC Sport. This collaboration will allow Genesis’ team members to get up to speed with ACO rules racing before joining the world championship.

The ORECA 07 which Genesis will operate with IDEC will be driven by former F1 driver Logan Sargeant, ex-British GT4 and W Series champion Jamie Chadwick and 19-year-old Frenchman Mathys Jaubert.

As expected, Genesis Magma Racing has confirmed that it will run its endurance program from a base in the south of France at Circuit Paul Ricard, in close proximity to both ORECA and IDEC.

Genesis confirms plans for LMDh prototype program

Genesis – Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand – has announced that it is set to compete in the top level of endurance racing with an LMDh prototype. The new project adds another pillar to Hyundai Motorsports’ portfolio, which currently includes …

Genesis — Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand — has announced that it is set to compete in the top level of endurance racing with an LMDh prototype. The new project adds another pillar to Hyundai Motorsports’ portfolio, which currently includes programs in WRC and TCR competition.

“Genesis is proud to announce its ambitious entry into the world of endurance racing through the LMDh program,” a company statement read. “Genesis is actively exploring programs to strengthen its high-performance image, and after a thorough evaluation of various options, LMDh emerged as the most strategic choice for us at this time.

“We have carefully analyzed LMDh and found it to be a natural fit for our motorsport ambitions and a valuable platform to drive the development of future mobility technologies for road cars. Endurance racing presents an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Genesis’ cutting-edge technology, design philosophy and performance-driven character in a highly competitive arena. This project is part of our broader vision for the future of mobility.”

The announcement included no confirmation of a chassis partner, no timeline for the car’s debut and no indication of which championships it will enter. However, industry sources suggest that the program will see the Korean brand compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class as well as IMSA’s GTP category, meaning it will have a presence at both the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Le Mans 24 Hours, subject to entries being approved.

As for its chassis partner, RACER sources suggest ORECA has been chosen and the target is for a 2026 debut. A works team is being put together for the WEC arm and the selection process for an IMSA service provider in understood to be in its final stages.

“All of us at IMSA are so thrilled that Genesis shared their plans to join the top category of endurance sports car racing,” said IMSA President John Doonan.

“We’re eagerly anticipating more information from Genesis as details of their program become available, and we will proudly welcome them to the growing Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) category grid across the entire IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.  To add another brand to the ranks of GTP is so special for our sport and most importantly for our fans.  The commitment of so many manufacturers to the LMDh technical platform is a strong validation of where sports car racing is positioned and where we continue to head into the future.”

As RACER reported yesterday, development of the program is well underway with staff members being moved close to the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France. An ELMS LMP2 effort is being put together for next year to enable key personnel to get up to speed with ACO racing.

Genesis Motor is a very recent addition to the global automotive family, launched in late 2015 as an independent brand of the Hyundai Motor Company. The brand launch came after Genesis was featured for more than a decade as the halo model name for Hyundai with both luxury sedans and sports coupes named Hyundai Genesis.

This story has been updated to include quotes from IMSA’s John Doonan

WATCH Chrissy Teigen, John Legend star in Genesis brand’s first Super Bowl ad

Chrissy Teigen and her husband, John Legend, will introduce Super Bowl viewers to “new luxury” on Sunday night. Genesis, a brand of luxury vehicles under the Hyundai umbrella, released its first Super Bowl commercial Tuesday night, with Teigen and …

Chrissy Teigen and her husband, John Legend, will introduce Super Bowl viewers to “new luxury” on Sunday night.

Genesis, a brand of luxury vehicles under the Hyundai umbrella, released its first Super Bowl commercial Tuesday night, with Teigen and Legend serving as main characters at a party filled with “old luxury” stereotypes. The 60-second commercial starring the celebrity couple will air in the second quarter.

“We all believed that John and Chrissy best represent the kind of pure honesty and approachability that old luxury never had,” said Innocean USA’s Bob Rayburn, the executive creative director of the agency that created the spot. “Most luxury advertising acts like once your income reaches a certain level, your sense of humor gets surgically removed. As a vibrant young luxury brand, Genesis wanted to take a more humorous approach, John and Chrissy embody that flawlessly.”

Check out the full commercial below.

Joseph Bramlett receives Charlie Sifford Memorial exemption for Genesis Invitational

Joseph Bramlett has received the Charlie Sifford Memorial exemption and will play at the Genesis Invitational Feb. 13-16 at Riviera.

Joseph Bramlett was named the recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial exemption for the 2020 Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods announced Tuesday.

The exemption, awarded annually since 2009 to a golfer representing a minority background, exists to promote diversity in golf. The exemption was re-named in 2017 to honor Charlie Sifford, the first African-American player to compete on the PGA Tour.

Harold Varner III (2014), J.J. Spaun (2016) and Cameron Champ are among past recipients.

“It’s great seeing Joseph back on Tour,” Woods said in a statement. “The determination to rebuild his swing and regain his card shows the perseverance Charlie would have admired.”

Bramlett, the first two-time recipient of the Sifford exemption after receiving the honor as a rookie in 2011, suffered an annular tear to his L4 and L5 discs in 2013 while playing on the Korn Ferry Tour. Since his injury, Bramlett changed his swing to reduce pressure on his back and has since played in 11 PGA Tour events, including eight this season. He most recently played in the Farmers Insurance Open in which he tied for 45th.

Bramlett earned his PGA TOUR card in 2019 for the first time since 2011 after finishing in the top 25 in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.

“Being selected to represent and promote the diversity of the game through this tournament in 2011 was an experience that I’ll never forget,” Bramlett said in a statement. “Receiving the exemption again in 2020 is a huge honor, but an even greater opportunity for me to carry on Mr. Sifford’s legacy of promoting the game of golf to minority communities across the country. I sincerely thank Tiger and TGR Foundation for this opportunity and for all the incredible work they do throughout the year.”

The 2020 Genesis Invitational will be held Feb. 13-16 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. The full field will be announced Feb. 7.

It’s the first year the Genesis will have invitational status, meaning the field will be limited to 120 players.

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