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GMR-001 Hypercar Reaches Key Milestone With Successful Engine Installation And Fire-Up
The first chassis of the GMR-001 Hypercar reached a significant milestone on July 9 with a successful fire-up. This event was crucial for Genesis Magma Racing's entry into the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. The chassis, built at Oreca's workshop, is set for testing and development throughout 2025. The car will be handed over to Genesis Magma Racing engineers for initial tests in August.
Work on the GMR-001 chassis began right after the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Located near Genesis Magma Racing’s Race Base and Circuit Paul Ricard, Oreca’s workshop hosted the build. Experienced technicians from Oreca, along with Genesis Magma Racing mechanics and engineers, collaborated on key stages like the V8 twin-turbo engine installation and fire-up.
The car fire-up marked a pivotal moment in developing the GMR-001's powertrain. Engineers tested the engine through its rev range in all seven transmission gears. They also evaluated the hybrid system by charging batteries from the engine and directing energy to rear driveshafts, simulating track conditions.
Genesis Magma Racing Technical Director FX Demaison stated, "The car build has been about bringing everything together—all the expertise we have within Genesis Magma Racing and at Oreca." He emphasized that this successful fire-up confirms their work so far and marks the beginning of further development through testing.
The collaboration between Genesis Magma Racing and Oreca has been crucial throughout the car build process. Both teams worked closely to meet tight deadlines dictated by the GMR-001’s development schedule. This partnership highlights how different departments combined their expertise to achieve this milestone.
Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul remarked, "In a project like this, you have certain dates circled and this was one of them." He added that reaching this point on schedule is a significant achievement and an excellent start for the next development phase.
Engine Development Journey
The engine work began in June 2024 with Hyundai Motorsport’s Powertrain Department designing it based on their championship-winning World Rally Championship entries. The engine was first fired up successfully in February. Since then, extensive testing on various dynos validated performance simulations before integrating it into the GMR-001 chassis.
The final stages of building continue as Oreca and Genesis Magma Racing staff complete preparations for testing. Focus will soon shift to additional chassis to accelerate GMR-001 development before homologation for the 2026 season begins.
Genesis Magma Racing's Future Plans
Genesis Magma Racing represents Genesis' bold entry into motorsport, combining precision engineering with advanced technology. The team plans to debut the GMR-001 Hypercar in both FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026 and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027, powered by a new V-8 engine inspired by Hyundai’s WRC technology.
This partnership reflects Genesis’ commitment to blending high-performance capabilities with luxury, reinforcing its competitive spirit globally. As part of Hyundai Motorsport, Genesis benefits from extensive motorsport expertise and engineering capabilities.
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