Genesis Magma Racing Advances Toward 2026 WEC Debut with Successful GMR-001 Test
Genesis Magma Racing has made significant strides toward its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) debut in 2026, completing a rigorous five-day on-track test of the GMR-001 Hypercar at Circuit Paul Ricard, accumulating over 500 laps.
The test focused primarily on validating the car’s mechanical and electrical systems, with particular attention to the intricate software managing its newly developed 3.2-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid engine. Factory drivers André Lotterer and Pipo Derani executed the driving duties, providing crucial feedback on performance and system functionality.
Technical director FX Demaison praised the team’s progress, stating, “We had a programme that we were able to follow, so that’s very promising. We’re purely focused on software, especially in the powertrain, which has many complex features to manage.”
Located in proximity to both Genesis Magma Racing’s new facility and chassis partner ORECA, the choice of Paul Ricard facilitated effective collaboration between the two engineering teams.
Amid initial system checks, the team also began evaluating the GMR-001’s handling characteristics. Chief engineer Justin Taylor noted, “We’re already discussing the car’s performance, which exceeded my expectations at this stage.”
Lotterer described his early experience in the car as encouraging: “The GMR-001 Hypercar is well-conceived; the feedback is natural and instinctive, making it enjoyable to drive.” Derani added, “It’s always an unknown with a new car, but we have a solid base to work from.”
Minor technical issues emerged during testing, a normal part of the development process. “This is why you go testing,” Demaison explained. “We aim to identify and resolve as many issues as possible quickly.”
Looking ahead, Genesis Magma Racing’s testing program will concentrate on reliability over race distance, optimizing performance, and refining operational procedures in preparation for a two-car entry in the 2026 FIA WEC season, followed by an expansion into the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027.
Images courtesy of Genesis/Drew Gibson
