Genesis complete first test of new Hypercar challenge for WEC 2026

Genesis completed approximately 3000km with its new World Endurance Championship challenger during the first wave of track testing for the LMDh prototype last month. 

Genesis Magma Racing managed in excess of 500 laps at Circuit Paul Ricard over five days of running in the final two weeks of August with Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani aboard the first GMR-001 Hypercar. 

Testing began on 19 August with a three-day test, before the car returned to the track for two more days starting on 28 August. 

The first proper track running followed a shakedown run with Lotterer and Derani, the first drivers signed by Genesis for next year’s WEC campaign, on Ricard’s training circuit earlier in August.

Calibrating the mechanical and electrical systems of the GMR-001 and its hybrid powertrain, with an in-house developed 3.2-litre twin-turbo V8 at its heart, was the focus of the first circuit tests.

The runs were judged a success by the Genesis race team and its technical director, Francois-Xavier ‘FX’ Demaison.

“We had a programme that we were able to follow, so that’s very promising for the whole team,” said Demaison.

What were described by Genesis as “minor issues” were identified during the initial running, and the downtime spent at GMR’s Ricard race base allowed the team and ORECA Motorsport, around whose chassis spine the GMR-001 has been developed, to come up with solutions before the final two days.

“It’s a new car and new engine,” explained Demaison. “It’s normal to have issues, but we have a good team of engineers to solve them as quickly as possible.

“This is why you go testing: we’re here to see as many problems as possible and to be able to fix them as quickly as possible.”

Genesis revealed that it was able to start working on the balance of the car over the course of the five days. 

GMR chief engineer Justin Taylor said: “We’re getting to the point already where we are talking about the performance of the car, which I didn’t honestly expect.

“The drivers are giving us the feedback we need on all the systems, and on the side, they’re already looking at how to make the GMR-001 Hypercar fast.”

Lotterer described the Genesis LMDh as “obviously well-born” and “fun to drive”. Derani called it “a good base to start working with”. 

The Ricard testing was the start of an exhaustive European-based test schedule planned to take the GMR-001 through to its homologation at the end of the year and towards its race debut at next year’s WEC season-opener in Qatar in March.