Genesis Magma Racing perform operational checks and pass key milestone at final GMR-001 Hypercar test of 2025
Genesis Magma Racing wrapped up an intense year at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a three-day test (10-12 December) that included an important milestone for the GMR-001 Hypercar’s development.
Final test of 2025 gives team chance to test operational processes
Coming just over a year after the formal announcement of the team in Dubai, the successful test showed how far Genesis Magma Racing and the GMR-001 Hypercar have progressed in 2025.
A team of personnel has been built from the ground up, bringing together technicians and engineers from endurance racing and staff from Hyundai Motorsport, who were part of the Trajectory Programme, embedded within the IDEC Sport LMP2 team. The Barcelona test was a key test of operational processes, with full crews of mechanics and engineers for the two test cars as well as team management and six-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx, serving as the team’s Racing Advisor.
Team Manager Anouck Abadie said:
It's like a rehearsal before you go on stage, so that was very important to do it. To know that everybody works well together, because when you pick up people from different teams and environments you don't expect them to know each other at the first race. So it was really important for us, before closing 2025, to at least do one test with almost a full team. We had 75 people, about 80% of the team here, so now we can see if we need to make some adjustments. Overall, I am very satisfied and optimistic when I see the team working together.
The test also brought a significant milestone in the development of the Genesis G8MR 3.2l Turbo V8 engine at the heart of the car. The motor, designed and built by Hyundai Motorsport, was first fired-up in February, beginning a series of dyno tests to achieve efficiency, power and reliability targets. During the days at Barcelona the engine of car #17 surpassed 8,000km – a key reliability goal – before the end of the test.
“It's a massive deal for us to reach our reliability target,” said Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer Justin Taylor. “If you go into the season knowing that you can't complete the longest, most important race, then it would be hard to stay motivated. The power unit guys had the biggest task of anybody with this project, so this speaks to the job they’ve done.”
Successful test completes remarkable year
The team completed three full days of running at the circuit with both cars. Following the confirmation of the team’s driver line-ups for the 2026 WEC season, the test was a further opportunity for drivers and engineers to work together as they will next year. #17 GMR-001 Hypercar drivers André Lotterer, Pipo Derani and Mathys Jaubert shared a car sporting a new ‘liquid metal’ livery, overlaid with the Korean Hangeul lettering for ‘Magma’ which inspired the geometric Genesis Magma Racing logo carried on the car’s engine cover.
Mathieu Jaminet and Dani Juncadella shared the sister car with 2026 Reserve Driver Jamie Chadwick, continuing to gain experience in the GMR-001 Hypercar. Paul-Loup Chatin, who will complete the #19 line-up for 2026, was not allowed to drive the car until the new year.
On track, the running focused on optimising reliable performance within the WEC’s technical regulations on a track representative of many on the FIA WEC calendar. The two cars gave the team double the amount of data.
André Lotterer said: “We have come a long way with since the first test, especially on reliability. So, we were at Barcelona with two cars focused on performance and in particular software optimisation. We came with a new aero package, taking what we have learned and also got to try the new tyres on one car. We maximised our time on track and collected a lot of data so we leave smarter than when we arrived.”
Taylor said: “I think we go into the Christmas break with positive spirits, because we know that we can now start working on other things and have a little bit less to worry about. Certainly, there's a lot of people who have a lot of work left to do next year, but I am confident.”
