We’ve been privy to the renderings of the Genesis-planned LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid), hypercar competitor coming to WEC and IMSA racing series within the next year or two. But the big reveal of the polished, fiery orange-clad physical competitor for its Genesis Magma Racing effort — the GMR-001 hypercar — happened Wednesday on the US shore at this week’s New York International Auto Show.
Like many of the hypercar manufacturers competing in both series across the pond thus far, you can see where Genesis has pulled design cues from its road cars – noting the recognizable “two-line” lighting, or the slightly separated stacked “strips” of headlights like you see on its models – same for the rear “taillights.” The sweeping curves of the body and panel work were done by Genesis’ Design Europe’s chief creative officer, Luc Donckerwolke.
Underneath and new to note is a flat underbody plate has to support aerodynamic efficiency, with integrated inlets that are meant to help enhance the car’s thermal performance. Beyond the bodywork though, the chassis development remains a partnership project between the Korean outfit and ORECA.
What’s not changing as far as we know, as no further information was shared by Genesis at the time of the physical car’s reveal is the hypercar’s planned V8 underpinnings expected to be paired with the series' spec hybrid system.
What we do know is that the V8 is being developed from similar technology used in its inline four-cylinder 1.6-liter turbo engine from the Hyundai i20 N Rally 1. The technical director at Hyundai behind the LMDh engine program told Motorsport.com in December that the development from a 1.6-litre inline four to a 3.2-litre in the short time window (about 16 months from inception to track) would be challenging, but the idea of making small adjustments from the four to a V8 would be more time conducive, rather than developing an entire V8 engine from the ground up.
Chances are that there will be some changes in the design and powertrain as development continues on the GMR-001, as expected. Each manufacturer who has participated in LMDh/hypercar programs has experienced similar changes prior to the final form that arrives on track for race day. And the powertrain developments are constant as the team and manufacturers behind the hybrid unit, learn how each works together.
In the interim, Genesis Magma Racing is working on gathering real world experience ahead of its WEC debut next year — with an LMP2 entry in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) championship and the team's Trajectory Program drivers Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert. It's already experienced success in the opening round of the series — scoring a win for the team's debut race at the 4 Hours of Barcelona.
The Genesis Magma Racing will set its pace in the 2026 WEC season with drivers Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani, with plans to run an additional car in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in the States in 2027.
Genesis has also confirmed that the twin-turbo V8 engine that will power the GMR-001 along with the spec LMDh hybrid system is up and running.
The V8, developed out of technology employed by Hyundai World Rally Championship contenders since 2017, was fired up on the dyno for the first time at the end of February.
Genesis Magma Racing team principal Cyril Abiteboul described the tests as the first “heartbeat” of the project.
A first run for the engine in the GMR-001 is scheduled for the summer.
Genesis chose to employ WRC technology for its LMDh powerplant because of the short timescale for its entry into the prototype arena.
François-Xavier Demaison, technical director of the German-based Hyundai Motorsport operation in charge of the programme that started in June of last year, said: “With the time we had available to develop the engine we immediately knew we did not have time to completely design a new engine from scratch.
“The inline four engine from our WRC car has already been well proven: it became the logical step to carry over as many parts as possible.”
Genesis estimates that approximately 60% of the parts are common to the WRC engines in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 and the Genesis GMR-001.
