Genesis successfully completed around 3,000 kilometers on track with its new World Endurance Championship (WEC) contender during August’s initial testing phase for the LMDh prototype. The Genesis Magma Racing team conducted over 500 laps at Circuit Paul Ricard, marking the first intensive evaluation of the GMR-001 Hypercar, aimed at the 2026 WEC season.
The testing took place in two distinct waves: an initial three-day session starting on August 19, followed by an additional two days on August 28. This comprehensive schedule allowed the team to gather crucial data under realistic race conditions with drivers Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani behind the wheel.
Early Testing Focused on Mechanical and Hybrid Systems
The primary focus of the early tests was the calibration of the GMR-001’s mechanical components and electric systems. At its core, the car features a custom-designed 3.2-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain developed in-house. Before the main track sessions, both Lotterer and Derani completed a shakedown run on the Circuit Paul Ricard training circuit earlier in the month, marking their initial on-track experience with the machine.
Genesis’s engineering team used the five days to address minor issues encountered during the early laps, making full use of its Ricard race base to collaborate with ORECA Motorsport, whose chassis underpins the GMR-001. This allowed the team to resolve problems rapidly and prepare the car for further testing.
We had a programme that we were able to follow, so that’s very promising for the whole team,
said Francois-Xavier ‘FX’ Demaison, the team’s technical director.
It’s a new car and new engine,
he added.
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.
Progress Towards Performance Optimization Received Positive Feedback
By the end of the test series, the team was already moving beyond system checks to fine-tune the balance and performance of the GMR-001. Chief engineer Justin Taylor acknowledged that the progress was ahead of expectations.
We’re getting to the point already where we are talking about the performance of the car, which I didn’t honestly expect,
Taylor said.
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.
Both drivers expressed favorable impressions of the new machine. Lotterer described the Genesis LMDh as obviously well-born and fun to drive, while Derani considered it
a good base to start working with.
Looking Ahead to Final Homologation and Racing Debut
This initial testing phase at Circuit Paul Ricard is only the beginning of an extensive European-based program designed to bring the GMR-001 to full homologation by the end of the year. The ultimate goal is to prepare the car for its competitive debut at the opening round of the 2026 WEC season, scheduled for March in Qatar.
With efficient problem-solving, rapid feedback from experienced drivers, and steady engineering progress, Genesis Magma Racing aims to build on this promising foundation as it approaches the challenges of endurance racing in the coming months.
