Genesis is making a bold leap into the world of motorsports, and the Genesis Magma Racing (GMR) team is wasting no time in preparing for its high-profile debut. With plans to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA) in 2027, Genesis is setting the stage to challenge some of the most established names in endurance racing, including Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.
At the heart of this ambitious project is Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul, a seasoned motorsports veteran known for his leadership in Formula 1 and beyond. In a recent interview with Genesis Newsroom, Abiteboul detailed the challenges and innovations behind the GMR-001 Hypercar, a cutting-edge race machine that aims to redefine performance in endurance racing.
One of the most ambitious elements of Genesis Magma Racing’s development has been the creation of a brand-new V8 powertrain for its ORECA-built LMDh chassis—a crucial step toward building a competitive endurance racing program.
“The biggest challenge is really the time we have available,” Abiteboul explained. “Building a path is a challenge, but [it’s] also finding the right facility and building a team. We need to have a group of 60 people who do not yet exist. We also need to have the right equipment for them to operate.”
Instead of designing an engine entirely from the ground up, Genesis took inspiration from Hyundai Motor Group’s successful 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, which has proven itself in the World Rally Championship. The result? A V8 power unit derived from this proven platform, delivering a combination of efficiency, durability, and raw power suited for the grueling demands of endurance racing.
“Another big challenge, from a timing and engineering perspective, is the powertrain,” said Abiteboul. “And anyone who knows about engines will appreciate that we only had six months to develop a complete engine. We elected to go with a V8, precisely because the V8 was a great opportunity not to have to redesign a complete engine from scratch and instead take inspiration from our existing WRC engine, a very competitive 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four that we’ve been using for several years. We took that engine and made it two times four in line, which gives us a V8.”
Beyond the car itself, Genesis Magma Racing is building an entirely new racing organization from the ground up—something Abiteboul describes as equally challenging and exciting.
“Building the team together and putting the different building blocks together is a challenge because nothing existed at first,” he said. “It’s not just a car that we need to build. It’s a racing team. An organization. A new identity.”
To achieve this ambitious goal, Genesis has partnered with ORECA, a French engineering powerhouse with decades of experience in endurance racing. ORECA has been instrumental in designing and developing some of the most competitive prototype and Hypercar-class race cars in modern history. Their expertise will help guide Genesis Magma Racing in optimizing the GMR-001’s aerodynamics, chassis performance, and overall race strategy.
“We are very lucky to have ORECA as a partner,” Abiteboul added. “They have been designing endurance racing cars for decades, and their experience will be invaluable as we push forward with development.”
With the GMR-001 Hypercar still in the early stages of development, Genesis Magma Racing is rapidly expanding its infrastructure. The team is actively assembling a core group of 60 top engineers, designers, and strategists who will lead the brand’s charge onto the global racing stage. While much work remains, Genesis Magma Racing is on an aggressive timeline, proving that speed isn’t just for the racetrack—it’s a guiding principle in every step of the team’s journey.
