The Genesis GMR-001 engine started successfully

“The first heartbeat of the project.” Cyril Abiteboul makes no mistake when describing what the first start-up of the V8 engine of the future GMR-001 of Genesis Magma Racing represents. For each prototype, it is a sacred moment that marks the first tremors of life of a future racing car.

A few days after revealing its Hypercar, which will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and at the World ChampionshipEndurance (WEC) from 2026, the group Hyundai announced the start-up of its twin-turbo V8, which took place for the first time at the end of February at the Hyundai Motorsport headquarters.

The ignition, carried out under the supervision of Julien Moncet, Hyundai Motorsport's powertrain manager, and Rob Benson, engine workshop manager, went smoothly and was greeted with a round of applause from all those involved in its design.“We have a very strong team. greets Julien Moncet. All powertrain departments work together, with excellent communication between departments, which speeds up development and allows for quick adjustments.”

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Hyundai has made extensive use of its WRC technology

Hyundai built a V8 derived from the inline four-cylinder entered in WRC using 60% common parts. By using its existing technology, the Korean manufacturer saved time and money. Design of the engine began last June and was completed four months later, allowing it to be assembled at the beginning of the year and started production in February. “The first step of the project was to transfer our knowledge from the WRC to endurance racing, then to improve efficiency, reliability, design… explains Julien Moncet. The assembly The first engine takes longer because we have to learn and create the documentation in parallel. It took three to four weeks, but the launch went as planned."

"The I4 engine (used in WRC, Editor's note) is extremely sophisticated and efficient. It is a true racing engine, therefore an excellent basis for developing an endurance engine. notes François-Xavier Demaison, Hyundai's technical director. Le rally is in itself a form of endurance, so it's a good starting point for an engine intended for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The time available did not allow us to design a completely new engine. The development, validation, and production of each part takes time. The I4 engine is already proven, so using as many parts as possible was a logical decision.

The next step for Genesis will be bench testing before connecting the engine to the transmission and hybrid system. The first track tests are expected later this year, the manufacturer said.

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