Genesis, the luxury automotive brand, has announced a thrilling entry into the world of motorsport with the launch of Genesis Magma Racing. This ambitious endeavor, unveiled in Dubai, signals Genesis’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance and luxury. Leveraging the expertise of Hyundai Motorsport, Genesis Magma Racing is set to compete in prestigious endurance races, starting with the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA) in 2027. At the heart of this announcement was the stunning Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar, a high-performance prototype embodying the brand’s signature “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy.
Genesis Magma Racing: A New Era of Luxury Performance
Genesis Magma Racing represents a significant step for the brand, extending its reach into the high-stakes environment of global motorsport. This move is underpinned by a strategic partnership with Hyundai Motorsport, renowned for its decade-long success in global race and rally activities. Hyundai Motorsport will provide crucial support to Genesis’ motorsport operations, bringing its championship-winning expertise to the prestigious World Endurance Championship and IMSA stages. This collaboration positions Genesis to showcase its engineering prowess and the inherent endurance of its vehicles on the world’s most demanding circuits.
Endurance racing, particularly events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Daytona 24, is the ultimate test of automotive speed, reliability, and strategic planning. The Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) class, a premier category within WEC and IMSA, perfectly encapsulates this challenge. By entering the LMDh category, Genesis joins an elite group of manufacturers, demonstrating not only its dedication to performance but also its commitment to innovation within the framework of luxury and sustainability.
Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis, emphasized the natural progression into motorsport: “This entry into motorsport is a natural evolution for Genesis. 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.” This venture is not just about racing; it’s about embedding the spirit of high performance into the core of the Genesis brand and future Genesis Car designs.
Unveiling the Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar: Athletic Elegance on the Track
The Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar stands as the visual and technological embodiment of Genesis’ motorsport ambitions. Its unveiling was a highlight of the Genesis Magma Racing launch event. This high-performance prototype is not merely a race car; it’s a statement of Genesis’ design ethos applied to the extreme demands of endurance racing. The GMR-001 perfectly captures the brand’s commitment to “Athletic Elegance,” translating refined luxury into a track-ready machine.
Adding to the brand identity, the Genesis Magma Racing logo was also revealed. This distinctive logo draws inspiration from the Korean alphabet, specifically the hangeul spelling of “Magma.” By incorporating the consonants “ㅁ,” “ㄱ,” and “ㅁ,” the logo creates geometric shapes that visually represent Genesis’ Korean heritage and its dynamic entry into motorsport. According to Donckerwolke, “The logo seamlessly blends innovation with cultural authenticity, symbolizing the brand’s distinctly Korean identity and its bold entry into motorsport.”
The GMR-001 Hypercar is instantly recognizable as a genesis car, primarily due to its signature Two Lines lighting. These sleek, horizontal lights wrap around both the front and rear of the vehicle, emphasizing its width and aerodynamic purpose. This distinctive lighting element is seamlessly integrated into the car’s flowing bodywork, reinforcing Genesis’ minimalist design principles while ensuring high visual impact on the track.
The bodywork of the GMR-001 is characterized by meticulous surface design. Each panel is sculpted to convey a sense of motion, even when stationary, reflecting the car’s inherent agility. Inspired by the Genesis Magma lineup, the exterior features subtle yet sculptural details that underscore its athleticism and high-speed capabilities. The smooth, contoured surfaces are not just aesthetically pleasing; they are functionally designed to guide airflow across the body, optimizing aerodynamic efficiency and reinforcing the car’s assertive character.
The side profile of this genesis car highlights a sweeping Parabolic Line, a signature Genesis design cue that flows elegantly from the front to the rear. This line is not just a stylistic element; it’s engineered to enhance airflow towards the rear diffuser, thereby improving downforce and handling, crucial for high-speed track performance. The rear section features a concave design, framed by an active spoiler that dynamically adjusts to driving conditions. This active aerodynamic element balances drag reduction with stability, ensuring optimal performance during intense racing scenarios.
Developed at Genesis Design Europe under the guidance of Luc Donckerwolke, the GMR-001 Hypercar embodies forward-thinking design. Its striking black finish and design cues borrowed from the Magma lineup signal a powerful new direction for Genesis performance vehicles. The GMR-001 serves as both a tribute to Genesis’ established design DNA and a forward-looking inspiration for future genesis car models, perfectly balancing elegance with raw racing capability.
Donckerwolke summarizes the essence of the GMR-001 and the Magma concept: “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.”
Genesis Magma Racing Team: Drivers and Future Plans
Hyundai Motorsport’s involvement extends beyond technical support; it is deeply integrated into the operational structure of Genesis Magma Racing. Cyril Abiteboul, President of Hyundai Motorsport GmbH, will also serve as Team Principal for Genesis Magma Racing. This leadership ensures a strong link between Hyundai’s motorsport heritage and Genesis’ new venture. Fresh off recent victories in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and TCR World Tour, Hyundai Motorsport is well-equipped to guide Genesis in this ambitious program, collaborating with trusted and equally ambitious partners like ORECA Motorsport and IDEC Sport, specialists in endurance racing.
“The official launch of Genesis Magma Racing is a momentous occasion,” stated Cyril 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.”
Driving the GMR-001 Hypercar will be a team of highly accomplished drivers. André Lotterer and Luis “Pipo” Derani have been announced as the lead drivers for 2025. Their initial roles will focus on technical development and simulator sessions to prepare for the 2026 LMDh season, where they will both compete as race drivers.
André Lotterer expressed his enthusiasm: “I am beyond thrilled and thankful to join the Genesis brand for its entry into endurance racing. 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.”
Luis “Pipo” Derani echoed this sentiment, stating, “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.”
Prior to their WEC debut in 2026, Genesis Magma Racing will gain valuable track experience by partnering with IDEC Sport to field an LMP2 entry in the 2025 European Le Mans Series (ELMS). This ELMS campaign will feature a promising lineup of emerging talent: Logan Sargeant (U.S.), Jamie Chadwick (Britain), and 19-year-old Mathys Jaubert (France). This strategic approach will allow Genesis Magma Racing to refine its operations and build momentum towards its premier class entries. Genesis Magma Racing will establish its operational hub at Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France, strategically located near ORECA Motorsport and IDEC Sport, facilitating closer collaboration and streamlined operations.
Magma Concept Showcase: Genesis’ High-Performance Vision
The unveiling of Genesis Magma Racing and the GMR-001 Hypercar is part of a broader vision to redefine high-performance luxury. This vision extends beyond the racetrack and is vividly illustrated by the five Magma concept models showcased at the Dubai event. These models – the GV80 Coupe Concept, G80 EV Magma Concept, GV60 Magma Concept, X Gran Berlinetta Concept and X Gran Racer VGT Concept – collectively represent Genesis’ ongoing pursuit of design and innovation excellence since the GV80 Coupe Concept was introduced in April 2023.
These Magma concept models highlight the evolution of Genesis’ high-performance capabilities and demonstrate how the Magma sub-brand will influence the direction of future genesis car designs. The Magma line signifies a commitment to blending high performance with the inherent elegance and luxury that defines the Genesis brand. Through Genesis Magma Racing and these concept models, Genesis is clearly signaling a future where speed and elegance are not mutually exclusive but are, in fact, intrinsically linked.
