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This year is shaping up to be a landmark one for Hyundai’s premium brand Genesis as it gears up to move into the top-end of sportscar racing with the GMR-001. While we won’t see it race under its o…
Genesis, Hyundai’s premium brand, is preparing to enter top-end sportscar racing with the GMR-001, a move that marks a significant milestone for the company.
Despite not competing this season under its own banner, Genesis is expected to make a splash as its new LMDh-spec challenger approaches homologation.
By choosing the LMDh route with a common hybrid system, gearbox, and chassis spine, Genesis has shortened the time required to be race-ready and can leverage the knowledge gained by other manufacturers in the past two years.
The upcoming engine dyno tests will be the first major hurdle for the GMR-001, which will feature a twin-turbo V8 based on Hyundai’s WRC inline-four unit, integrating a spec-hybrid system.
The decision to base the LMDh engine on the WRC unit was driven by time constraints and risk mitigation, aligning with the goal of making its FIA WEC Hypercar debut by the 2026 season opener.
The team’s technical director emphasized the need to minimize risks and streamline the engine development process to meet the tight timeline for the project.
