Draped in a sleek, grey-black livery with orange accents, the Genesis GMR-001 has officially been presented ahead of its 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship debut. The LMDh challenger is tasked with taking the first win for the Hyundai Group at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the long run.
For the moment, the bar is set to a lower level as the GMR-001 is set for its baptism of fire in the 6-hour race at Imola, which will show how good the meticulous preparation really was.
The GMR-001 has seen no less than seven test sessions in as many months since its rollout at Circuit Paul Ricard in late August 2025.
For Andre Lotterer, who joined the project in December 2024, building the infrastructure from the ground up has been a unique career milestone.
"We essentially started from zero. It’s been rewarding to be more than just a name in an established team — I’ve been able to get involved and truly bring my experience to the table,” Lotterer told Motorsport.com.
"By August, we were turning our first laps. The crew was still quite small then, but having Oreca’s support ensured we didn’t lose any time."
While the 3.2-litre twin-turbo V8 and the complex software suites are in-house developments, Genesis opted for an Oreca chassis under the LMDh regulations, making the GMR-001 the third LMDh entry to utilise the French constructor's spine, following the Acura ARX-06 and Alpine A424, with Ford set to join that list in 2027.
Following the initial "baby steps" in Le Castellet, the team headed to the Algarve Circuit in September for its first true endurance simulation. Over 30 gruelling hours, the GMR-001 showed the kind of reliability that has become a hallmark of the LMDh platform.
"We managed to run for very long periods during that first big test. There were minor gremlins — a sensor mounted too close to the engine getting heat-soaked and failing, that sort of thing—but nothing that required a fundamental redesign. It was impressive for a new outfit," Dani Juncadella told Motorsport.com. He had joined the project at the Algarve Circuit.
The main focus in these tests was on the software side of things, essentially the only thing that doesn’t get 'BoP-ed' in WEC and which therefore is the biggest battleground.
"Software is everything in this championship. You have to master the torque sensors on the driveshafts to stay perfectly at the 520 kW power limit,” Lotterer said.
Testing continued through Magny-Cours in October, Aragon in November, and a desert stint in Qatar in January. A final pre-season run at Imola followed in March.
"The rain in Magny-Cours was a blessing. Sometimes, you have to get wet and dirty to truly understand the tyres and traction control," Lotterer added.
In Qatar, the main focus shifted to properly warming up the new Michelin tires quickly. "I raced on the circuit with a GT3 car. But with a Hypercar, the high-speed corners and downforce make it a completely different beast," Juncadella explained.
Genesis GMR-001 vs. Porsche 963: Two different beasts
Lotterer, a veteran of the Porsche 963, provided an intriguing comparison between the two LMDh philosophies. Even though being built to very restrictive regulations, the two cars offered completely different driving philosophies.
"The car is a joy to drive. Compared to the Porsche, it feels very different — more precise, more linear, and it gives you a bit more confidence. It feels like a 'purer' driving experience," Lotterer said.
Mathieu Jaminet, another driver joining Genesis from Porsche, echoed those sentiments. "It’s surprising how different two cars can feel given how tight the LMDh regulations are. The GMR-001 already has clear strengths, and I’m trying to use my past experience to help the engineers iron out the weaker points to create a winner,” the Frenchman said.
Despite the thousands of miles covered, the team awaits the moment of truth at the Imola 6 Hours with excitement.
Pipo Derani compared the journey to "climbing Mount Everest," noting that the focus must now shift: “Now we have to polish everything – have the pitstops done right, people knowing exactly what they need to do.”
Paul-Loup Chatin was equally cautious, stating it would be "unrealistic" to expect immediate dominance in such a high-stakes field. “I’d actually prefer to have a difficult race in Imola and then a good Bahrain weekend at the end of the year”, the former Alpine driver said.
With the team clearly eyeing victories in the future, the goals remain humble for the first races of the project. “A great season would mean finishing the first race without major issues,” Lotterer said.
“A couple of podiums would be fantastic, but we won’t truly know where we stand until we share the track with the rest of the grid for the first time."
