Genesis Competes in the Prestigious Endurance Race "Le Mans 24 Hours"

Genesis Magma Racing... Continuing Its Motorsport Challenge
Testing a New Powertrain for the "GMR-001 Hypercar"

Genesis, the premium brand of Hyundai Motor Company, continues its challenge on the global motorsport stage by participating in the "Le Mans 24 Hours," one of the world's top three motorsport events and the most prestigious endurance race in the world.

Genesis announced on the 15th that its racing team, Genesis Magma Racing, competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours, which was held in the Le Mans region of France from the 14th to the 15th (local time).

Genesis announced on the 15th that its racing team, Genesis Magma Racing, participated in the "Le Mans 24 Hours" held in Le Mans, France. From left, Cyril Abiteboul, Head of Hyundai Motorsport and General Director of Genesis Magma Racing (GMR); Xavier Martinet, Head of Hyundai Europe Division and Head of Genesis Europe; Jackie Ickx, Genesis Brand Partner and GMR Racing Advisor; Luke Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group CDO and CCO; GMR Sports Director Gabriel Tacchini; GMR Chief Engineer Justin Taylor; and GMR Team Manager Anouk Abadie are posing for a commemorative photo in front of the GMR-001 hypercar real car design model. Hyundai Motor Company

First held in 1923, the Le Mans 24 Hours is known as the "origin of endurance racing" and boasts a long history and high status. It is a dream stage that countless brands and drivers aspire to join. In the Le Mans 24 Hours, three drivers take turns driving the same car continuously around the 13.626 km Circuit de la Sarthe for 24 hours, and the team that completes the most laps at the end of the race is declared the winner.

To achieve a top result, not only excellent driving performance but also outstanding durability to withstand 24 hours, the drivers' exceptional skills, advanced operational strategies, and strong teamwork are all essential.

The Le Mans 24 Hours is divided into three classes: the top-level Hypercar class; the "LMP2" class, where prototype cars with standardized chassis and engines compete to minimize mechanical differences; and the "LMGT3" class, where a variety of high-performance sports cars based on production models participate.

Genesis Magma Racing competed in the LMP2 class in collaboration with its operating partner, IDEC Sport.

The team featured drivers including Andre Lotterer, a three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner; Jamie Chadwick and Mathis Jobeur, who won the LMP2 class at the opening round of the 2025 European Le Mans Series in April?which serves as a prelude to the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship (WEC)?and also claimed overall victory at the "Le Castellet 4 Hours" race in May.

Genesis Magma Racing-IDEC Sports vehicle participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Hyundai Motor Company

Through this event, Genesis plans to accumulate know-how in endurance race operations and technical data, as well as enhance the drivers' skills, thereby laying the groundwork for its debut in the WEC Hypercar class next year.

Luke Donckerwolke, President and Chief Design Officer (CDO) and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Hyundai Motor Group, stated, "Genesis Magma Racing is the embodiment of our design philosophy distilled into pure performance," adding, "As we seek to expand our market in Europe, Magma Racing symbolizes a deep connection with Europe, which has long been at the heart of automotive culture, going beyond mere motorsport activities."

In addition, Genesis unveiled its motorsport roadmap at its exhibition booth set up in the manufacturer village at the Le Mans 24 Hours event.

Genesis announced that it had successfully completed durability bench tests for a new racing-exclusive powertrain based on a 3.2-liter twin-turbo engine to be installed in the "GMR-001 Hypercar." The GMR-001 Hypercar is a model that demonstrates Genesis's future direction for "high-performance luxury" through the combination of high-performance technology and aesthetic identity. Genesis plans to make its official debut in the WEC Hypercar class next year with the GMR-001 Hypercar and to compete in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (WTSCC) hosted by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) the following year.

Genesis also produced two early test vehicles equipped with the new racing-exclusive powertrain in France and plans to begin track testing in the second half of this year.

Genesis exhibition booth set up in the manufacturer village at the Le Mans 24 Hours event. Hyundai Motor Company

Genesis also unveiled three new key executives to drive the development of its racing team. Anouk Abadie, who has experience in FIA and GT endurance racing, will serve as team manager; Justin Taylor, with expertise in the Hypercar and LMDh fields, will be chief engineer; and Gabriel Tacchini, a former World Touring Car Cup champion, will take on the role of sports director.

Genesis Magma Racing, led by these new members along with Cyril Abiteboul, Head of Hyundai Motorsport and General Director of Genesis Magma Racing, and Francois-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director of Genesis Magma Racing, will begin full-scale preparations for its debut in the WEC Hypercar class next year. Starting with the test runs scheduled for the second half of this year, the team will enter a full-fledged competitive mode.

Cyril Abiteboul, Head of Hyundai Motorsport and General Director of Genesis Magma Racing, stated, "With the establishment of Genesis Magma Racing, Hyundai Motorsport is also undergoing the process of transforming into a full-fledged motorsport specialist organization." He added, "We plan to strengthen cooperation with the Genesis Europe division through the relocation of our headquarters and major technical centers." He continued, "We will pursue synergy by establishing a dedicated base for Genesis Magma Racing in Le Castellet, France?adjacent to the headquarters of our key parts supplier, Oreca?for vehicle development and maintenance."

Meanwhile, Genesis set up a 200㎡ exhibition booth in the manufacturer village at the Le Mans 24 Hours and showcased a variety of exhibits. The GMR-001 Hypercar real car design model, unveiled in Europe for the first time, attracted attention with its unique livery design, which expresses Korean sensibility in geometric form inspired by the initial consonants of the Korean word "Magma." Genesis also exhibited concept models representing the Magma program, such as the X Gran Berlinetta Concept and the GV60 Magma Concept.