Juncadella Prepares for Genesis Hypercar Debut After Successful ELMS Campaign
The European Le Mans Series (ELMS) 2025 season has set the stage for Daniel Juncadella’s leap into the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar category with Genesis Magma Racing. Following the withdrawal of Logan Sargeant, Juncadella joined IDEC Sport’s #18 ORECA 07–Gibson, partnering with Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert. The trio claimed victory in three of the six ELMS races, including the initial two rounds, ultimately securing third in the championship standings.
Reflecting on his entry to the LMP2 program, Juncadella noted, “It was still early days… it would open up possibilities for the future.” Interest from Genesis became clear after a successful season, leading to a finalized deal in August.
Juncadella’s first drive in the Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar occurred during a test at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in September, followed by further testing at venues like Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. He observed significant performance improvements, particularly in hybrid management and drivability. “There’s a big step forward… I’m looking forward to driving a Hypercar,” he stated.
Despite extensive accomplishments in GT racing with Mercedes-Benz, including titles in both the Intercontinental GT Challenge and GT World Challenge Europe, Juncadella faced challenges breaking into prototype racing. He expressed frustration over the lack of opportunities due to limited prototype experience, stating, “I think LMP2 is a great series… but Hypercar is a big GT with a lot of power and no ABS.”
In addition to his role with Genesis, Juncadella continues competing as a Corvette factory driver in both the FIA WEC and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. He aims to focus on major endurance events like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and Spa but intends to streamline his commitments to avoid over-scheduling in his debut Hypercar season.
“I need to decide what I want to prioritize… it felt like a bit too much,” Juncadella reflected. His Hypercar debut is scheduled for the Qatar 1812KM on March 26–28, 2026, marking a critical transition in his racing career as he embraces the challenges of top-tier endurance racing.
