GMR-001 Hypercar Begins to Stir as Genesis Fires Up the Engine

Genesis Magma Racing’s (GMR) entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026 has reached a major milestone: on July 9, the first prototype of its GMR-001 hypercar roared to life for the very first time. In Oreca’s workshop in southern France, where the chassis is being built, engineers successfully fired up the twin-turbocharged V8 engine and validated the hybrid system’s charging and energy storage functions.

Several high-profile players are behind the project. Oreca leads chassis development, while the engine draws on technology from Hyundai’s WRC program. The GMR-001 power unit is a refined evolution of Hyundai’s rally engines, first tested back in February, followed by a series of load simulations that culminated in the first complete assembly of the car.

Genesis Magma Racing boss Cyril Abiteboul called the engine’s first ignition “the moment the car came to life.”

The first track test is slated for the end of August at the Paul Ricard circuit. Until then, assembly continues, followed by the build-out of additional prototypes in preparation for homologation.

Though the GMR-001 has yet to turn a wheel on track, it is already carving out a distinct identity: exclusive, ambitious, and unapologetically engineering-driven. Whether Genesis can assert itself in the ever-evolving LMH/LMDh landscape remains to be seen—but for now, the project is advancing with precision, the engine is spinning, and the batteries are charging.