The Genesis GMR-001 brings V8 power to tackle Ferrari at Le Mans
The GMR-001 is set to join a packed Hypercar grid in 2026, but we've already taken a look at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours race
Genesis will officially join the Hypercar club in 2026, if only on track and not on the road, revealing its GMR-001 LMDh competitor earlier this year to compete in the top class. The car and the newly-launched Genesis Magma Racing team will compete with Ferrari, Toyota, Aston Martin, Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, Alpine and more when it enters the World Endurance Championship for the 2026 season, and we've already taken a look at its design at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.
Built to the FIA’s LMDh – Le Mans Daytona Hybrid – regulations, the Genesis GMR-001 will use standardised hybrid componentry and a partner chassis. Genesis has partnered with Oreca for the GMR-001 chassis, which also underpins the Alpine A424 and Acura ARX-06. Genesis has recruited Le Mans winner and WEC Champion André Lotterer, alongside Pipo Derani, the former Cadillac racer.
Genesis has confirmed that the GMR-001 will use a twin-turbo V8 engine in combination with the de rigeuer LMDh hybrid system. There are however no further details pertaining to its size, or whether it’s a home-grown mill or based on an existing unit.
Revealed now in full-size at the New York Auto Show, in a form much closer to that of the car that will actually race in 2026 when the team makes its debut, this is a dramatic evolution of the concept that first previewed the GMR-001 at the end of 2024. All that’s carried over from the concept model is the signature Genesis two-line lighting and that 499P-esque rear wing treatment.
The nose has been significantly revised, as has the surfacing of the side of the car after the front wheels and air inlets and outlets across the car. The wing at the rear features three horizontal elements, with the Genesis two-line lights spanning the bottom two. There will be no mistaking it for anything else as it spears down the Mulsanne at Le Mans in 2026.
There’s of course also the livery, which incorporates Genesis’ Magma orange colour scheme. GMR is the next step in galvanising the Magma performance brand, which was introduced with the GV80 Coupe Concept, G80 Magma, GV60 Magma, X Gran Berlinetta and X Gran Racer VGT Concepts. It will be the branding associated with forthcoming Genesis performance models, akin to BMW’s M division.
