Last year, Genesis, the luxury arm of Hyundai, made its debut in motorsports with the formation of Genesis Magma Racing (GMR). Ahead of the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team unveiled its ambitious roadmap for its 2026 debut in the prestigious Hypercar class. This announcement not only offered updates on the GMR team’s development but also revealed the brand’s bold plans to expand across key European markets.
Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis, positioned GMR as more than just a motorsport initiative. He described it as an extension of Genesis's design philosophy and cultural identity. GMR’s team principal, Cyril Abiteboul, shared crucial milestones in the development of the GMR-001 Hypercar, notably the vehicle will feature a newly developed V8 engine inspired by Hyundai’s World Rally Championship (WRC) technology. Essentially, two 1.6-liter inline-four engines from Hyundai's N World Rally Team will be fused together at Hyundai Motorsport GmbH in Germany to create a twin-turbocharged V8 engine for the GMR-001.
In addition to the engine updates, the team confirmed the opening of a new strategic operations base in Le Castellet, France, in close proximity to its racing partner, Oreca. This location will enhance collaboration and vehicle development. Abiteboul remarked, “Our team is built from strong components. A robust chassis from Oreca, an ideal base in Le Castellet, an international team with diverse motorsport experience, and of course, the best of Korean culture driving us forward at hyperspeed.”
Key additions to the GMR leadership team were also revealed, including Anouck Abadie as team manager, Justin Taylor as chief engineer, and Gabriele Tarquini as sporting director. These seasoned leaders aim to guide the team through the grueling World Endurance Championship (WEC) by 2026 and the IMSA SportsCar Championship by 2027.
Meanwhile, Genesis made waves with its European expansion plans. By 2027, the brand will enter four new markets—France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands—bringing its European presence to a total of seven countries, including its established operations in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Xavier Martinet, Managing Director of Genesis Motor Europe, stated, “This is a pivotal moment for Genesis. We are expanding to deepen our long-term presence and commitment across Europe. This is the most significant market expansion since we launched in 2021 and marks the beginning of our next phase of strategic growth, as well as our sporting brand direction.”
“Genesis’s distinct electric models have a strong appeal in Europe, and demand is growing. With these new markets and our bold approach to motorsports, we look forward to introducing new customers to our design-driven, performance-oriented brand.”
Although Genesis did not reveal all the models it plans to sell in these new markets, they confirmed that the all-electric GV60 compact SUV, the electric GV70 SUV, and the G80 luxury sedan will be available in these four countries, starting in early 2026.
Behind this significant expansion, Genesis's motorsports efforts are not to be overlooked. While the GMR team’s official Le Mans debut will be in 2026, the team will be represented this year by veteran endurance driver and three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, André Lotterer. He will be joined by rising stars from GMR’s “Trajectory” driver development program, Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert, in the #18 IDEC LMP2 car. Lotterer’s involvement brings invaluable experience and highlights the team’s commitment to success in the world’s most grueling endurance race.