Watch The First Fire-Up of Genesis Magma Racing's V8 Twin-Turbo GMR‑001 Hypercar

Genesis makes its next leap forward with its entry into motorsports.

Many people think motorsport success comes down to the driver alone, but that’s only part of the story. Behind every race-winning car is a team of engineers, specialists, and technicians working together to create a track competitor worthy and able to take on the grueling conditions of racing. The team at Genesis Magma Racing is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the development of its GMR 001 Hypercar and the team responsible for its upcoming debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027.

A high-performance V8 Twin-Turbo engine is displayed against a black background, showcasing metallic components and dual intake systems inspired by the GMR‑001 Hypercar from Genesis Magma Racing.

The Genesis GMR-001 hypercar just crossed a huge milestone in its development journey. On July 9th, the very first chassis (GMR 001) roared to life with a smooth and successful engine fire-up in Le Castellet, France. The fire-up happened right on schedule and marked a major step forward in Genesis Magma Racing’s goal of joining the grid next year. The car is being built at Oreca’s workshop near Circuit Paul Ricard, where expert techs from both Oreca and Genesis Magma Racing have been hands-on throughout the build.

A close-up view of a complex GMR‑001 Hypercar engine with visible metal pipes, wiring, and V8 Twin-Turbo components in a workshop setting.

With the V8 twin-turbo engine now installed and tested, the project is heading into its final stages before the car hits the track for the first time in August. This development car will handle testing tasks through the rest of 2025, so getting everything right is crucial. Along with firing up the engine, the team successfully tested the hybrid system by charging the batteries and sending energy to the rear driveshafts, simulating how it’ll all work on the racetrack.

Close-up view of a modern V8 Twin-Turbo engine with visible hoses, wires, and metal components, including a black air intake pipe with blue bands and a silver turbocharger—engineered for Genesis Magma Racing hypercar performance.

Engine development started in June 2024 at Hyundai Motorsport’s Powertrain Department, drawing inspiration from their championship-winning World Rally Championship program. After the first engine fire-up in February, engineers spent months pushing it through extensive dyno tests to validate all performance and efficiency simulations. With the powertrain now fitted into the chassis and working exactly as planned, the countdown begins for the first real-world test sessions.

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