Hyundai has confirmed Genesis Magma Racing will enter the Hypercar category in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship season campaign.
After confirmation in September, and reports last year, Hyundai has teased first images of their twin-turbo V8 Genesis GMR-001 LMDh.
The South Korean manufacturer will partner with LMP2 racing outfit IDEC Sport for the project, and Oreca for the chassis.
Cyril Abiteboul, having led championship glory in the FIA World Rally Championship, will take up the role as team principal.
Andre Lotterer recently claimed his second FIA WEC title and joins four-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner Pipo Derani as named drivers so far.
“I’m beyond thrilled and thankful to join the Genesis brand for its entry into endurance racing,” said Lotterer.
“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 to build a successful future from the very beginning.”
“The ambition behind Genesis’ endurance racing project and the track record of those involved was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse,” added Derani.
“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.
“It will be a big challenge, but I believe all the necessary ingredients are here to make this endurance journey successful.”
Momentum set in motion for Genesis
IDEC Sport are running their 2025 European Le Mans Series project fielding an Oreca 07 LMP2.
Their drivers will be ex-Formula 1 driver Logan Sargeant, along with Jamie Chadwick and 19-year-old Mathys Jaubert.
Lotterer and Derani are talented, experienced names who have worked at the forefront of previous Hypercar projects.
Lotterer drove with Porsche Penske and their 963 LMDh whilst Pipo Derani was part of Glickenhaus’ LMH project and piloted Cadillac V-Series.R machinery for Action Express Racing, in IMSA and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
IDEC Sport’s ELMS drivers will serve as upcoming potentials for the new Genesis Hypercar programme.
In 2026, this will make Genesis the third Hypercar using a chassis developed by Oreca.
Others include Alpine with their established partnership alongside Oreca in the WEC as well Acura with their ARX-06 competing in IMSA’s GTP class.
Genesis Magma Racing are consolidating their base of operations at Circuit Paul Ricard, in the south of France.
Their intentions will tend to close proximity with Oreca and targeting an FIA WEC debut in 2026.
An interview with Abiteboul is set be published on the FIA WEC YouTube channel tomorrow (5 December).
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