Genesis started the engine of its 2026 World Endurance Championship LMDh car for the first time, preparing for testing next month.
The 3.2-litre twin-turbo V8 raced in the GMR-001 Hypercarduring static conditions at the workshops of chassis partner ORECA Motorsport close to Circuit Paul Ricard on 9 July.
The activation was referred to by Cyril Abiteboul, principal of Genesis Magma Racing, as the “GMR-001 Hypercar coming to life” and a “major milestone in the journey of Genesis Magma Racing.”
Genesis mentioned that engineers managed to operate the car through all seven gears in the transmission, and evaluated the one-make hybrid system — recharging the batteries using the engine and subsequently channeling the power to the rear driveshafts, as would occur during a race.
The engine was created based on the technology used in the Genesis sister brand.Hyundai’s World Rally Championship vehicles– several parts are carried forward and adjusted from the 1.6-liter inline four in the i20 N Rally 1.
Construction began on the internal combustion part of the GMR-001’s powertrain in June 2024, with the engine making its initial run on the test bench at Hyundai Motorsport’s headquarters in Frankfurt in February.
The engine and transmission later underwent what Genesis referred to as “several months of testing on various dynos” to confirm its performance and efficiency.
The initial development of the GMR-001 began following the Le Mans 24 Hours WEC event in mid-June.
The car’s engine operation occurred “exactly as planned,” as stated by Genesis, which Abiteboul described as a “major success.”
He emphasized at Le Mans that the project, which received approval only at the start of last September, was proceeding as scheduled.
Nothing we have revealed has altered – we are on track,” he stated. “It is a highly demanding timeline with minimal tolerance for mistakes.
We have attempted to reduce the risks, which is why we opted for established technology for the engine.
Genesis will join the WEC’s Hypercar category next year with its own team located at Ricard.
Before its launch, the manufacturer has formed a partnership with the IDEC Sport team, which frequently participates in Le Mans and the European Le Mans Series in LMP2.
The duo will create a program they refer to as a trajectory initiative to quicken the learning journey for their engineers and technicians.
Genesis and IDEC are operating an ORECA-Gibson 07 P2 in the ELMS this season with Jamie Chadwick as the driver,Daniel Juncadella and Mathys Jaubert.
So far, a three-time winner of the Le Mans raceAndre Lotterer and Pipo Derani, who has secured four wins in the Sebring 12 Hours IMSA SportsCar Championship event, are the soleconfirmed pilots for the two GMR-001swhich will take place in 2026.
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