Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar Unveiled Ahead of 2026 WEC Debut

Genesis has unveiled its new GMR-001 Hypercar ahead of its debut in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship.

In case you missed it, Hyundai has confirmed its plans to enter into the endurance racing foray under its Genesis luxury sub-brand. Ahead of its official entry in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, the Korean automaker has revealed its new and first Hypercar racer, dubbed the Genesis GMR-001.

This new hypercar is designed for the LMDh class, where it will compete in the Hypercar category under the newly-established Genesis Magma Racing banner, which will receive official backing from the Hyundai Motorsport division.

In terms of design, the GMR-001 Hypercar follows the radical design language seen on both the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta and X Gran Racer Vision GT concepts, albeit with some restrictions as per LMDh’s requirements. Described as a “forward-looking inspiration for upcoming models,” some familiar design cues present in this Hypercar include the dual-stack LED headlights used on Genesis Magma models, as well as the sweeping shoulder line on its side profile.

Some Hypercar-specific design touches primed here include the pronounced fenders with large air channels, a capsule-shaped central canopy, as well as several aggressive, GT-specific aero parts, including the large front and rear splitters, a vertical fin, and a massive active rear wing. While the automaker has yet to unveil the official livery for the GMR-001, we can expect it to incorporate some design elements from the Genesis brand, most notably being the signature Magma orange hue, as well as the new Genesis Magma Racing logo.

As of now, neither Genesis nor Hyundai have yet to unveil detailed powertrain specifications for the new GMR-001, but we know it will get a semi-electrified hybrid powertrain setup, as per LMDh’s requirements. Said regulation also dictates that a Hypercar output cannot exceed 671 HP (500 kW), with just 67 HP (50 kW) coming from its electrified hybrid setup. Other than that, a Hypercar must strictly feature a rear-wheel drive (RWD) setup, plus have a minimum weight of 1,030 KG.

Besides confirming the new racing outfit’s name, Genesis has also revealed its upcoming driver’s lineup from the 2026 season onwards. In charge of piloting the GMR-001 for the 2026 WEC season are three-time Le Mans winner and two-time WEC champion Andre Lotterer, alongside IMSA championship alum Luis Derani, who has won the 24 Hours of Daytona once.

Despite its Korean origin, Genesis will be using the Circuit Paul Ricard in France as its base, where all the technical development of the GMR-001 Hypercar will take place next year ahead of its racing debut later in 2026. Besides WEC, this new racecar will also participate in the 2027 season of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, competing under the top-flight Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) category.

Besides Hyundai, via its Genesis Magma performance arm, the endurance racing scene has also seen more and more automakers dipping their toes into the foray, with recent entry confirmation including Mercedes-Benz for the LMGT3 class of the WEC next year, as well as Aston Martin, who will be fleeting its new Valkyrie Hypercar for the Le Mans Hypercar category.