Ask anyone how they feel about the state of the world, and they’re likely to tell you that things are changing fast and times are strange. Adding to the political and societal strangeness, Genesis is gearing up to blow our minds.
Genesis has officially entered the hypercar arms race. On July 9, 2025, the Korean luxury brand’s motorsport division, Genesis Magma Racing, successfully completed the first fire-up of its GMR-001 prototype, marking a major milestone in the brand’s journey to the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources.
Genesis Is Making A Hypercar
The event took place at the Oreca workshop near Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France, and went exactly according to schedule. This first GMR-001 chassis will be used for testing and development throughout the remainder of the year, with the car’s first track outing slated for late August.
The fire-up was symbolic, but, more than just symbolism, it confirmed that the full hybrid powertrain, including a twin-turbo V8 engine and hybrid electric drive, is fully operational.
“This was the moment the car came to life,” said team principal Cyril Abiteboul. “It’s a huge step for Genesis Magma Racing and a perfect start to the next development phase.”
Developed With Oreca And Hyundai Motorsport Expertise
To build the new hypercar chassis, Genesis partnered with renowned French motorsport firm Oreca. Meanwhile, the high-performance engine was designed by Hyundai Motorsport’s Powertrain Department. That V8 was originally derived from Hyundai’s WRC championship-winning power unit, and has been tested and refined since its first successful bench start in February 2025.
This latest fire-up marked the first time all systems were integrated into a complete car. Engineers ran the engine through all seven gears while also validating the hybrid system, which captures energy under braking, stores it in a battery, and deploys it to the rear wheels, mimicking real race scenarios.
Technical Director FX Demaison emphasized how the fire-up connected months of design, engineering, and simulation work:
“The car build is where everything comes together—powertrain, aero, chassis, hybrid integration. The successful fire-up is proof we’re on the right path.”
The GMR-001 was constructed immediately following the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Genesis and Oreca technicians working closely to meet strict development deadlines. Additional chassis are already in the pipeline, with the goal of accelerating testing ahead of FIA homologation for the 2026 season.
Genesis Magma Racing Eyes Le Mans And Global Glory
Genesis isn’t just dipping its toes into endurance racing; it’s doing a cannonball. The GMR-001 will compete in the hypercar class of the WEC, which includes legendary manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota, Peugeot, and Cadillac. With its striking design, cutting-edge tech, and high-caliber partnerships, the GMR-001 is poised to become one of the most exciting newcomers in global motorsport.
While exact performance specs haven’t been revealed, Genesis is clearly playing for keeps. The combination of hybrid-electric propulsion, WRC-derived engine tech, and a lightweight Oreca-built chassis could position the GMR-001 as a serious contender right out of the gate.
With the first successful fire-up behind them and on-track testing ahead, Genesis Magma Racing is officially in the race. The fuse has been lit, and the countdown to a new era of Korean hypercar performance has begun.
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