More than 500 tours covered by Genesis at Le Castellet

The GMR-001 covered more than 500 laps of the Paul Ricard circuit during five days of testing in late August. This first session marks the launch of an intensive development program in preparation for the team's debut in the FIA ​​World Championship.Endurance (WEC) In 2026.

The main objective of these tests was to calibrate the main mechanical and electrical systems of the South Korean LMDh. The drivers focused their feedback on the car's behavior under different software configurations for managing the power delivered by the 8-liter twin-turbo V3,2.

« We were able to follow our program, which is very promising for the whole team, explains François-Xavier Demaison, technical director of Genesis Magma Racing. Right now, we're mainly working on the software, especially the powertrain. It's a hybrid car with many functions that we need to manage properly. »

Starting this first phase of testing on the Var circuit allowed Genesis Magma Racing engineers to work closely with Oreca, the chassis designer, taking advantage of the circuit's proximity to the team's operational base and the workshop where the prototype was built.

While system validation remained the priority, the team also began working on balancing the car's handling, analyzing how it felt after each modification.

« We're already talking about the car's performance, which I didn't expect so soon., acknowledges Justin Taylor, chief engineer of Genesis Magma Racing. The drivers are giving us the feedback we need on all systems and, in parallel, they are already starting to think about how to make the GMR-001 Hypercar fast. »

Pilots deliver positive impressions

These test days represented the first real opportunity for drivers André Lotterer and Pipo Derani to judge the car with racing tires, on a circuit much more representative of WEC tracks than the small facilities used for the initial run, carried out on the Oreca training circuit. The beast was also discovered on the Le Luc circuit, not far from Le Castellet.

« The first few shakedowns were just small steps to check that the car could move forward on its own and shift gears., underlines Justin Taylor. Now we are trying to get closer to what a real racing car should be. »

« We rode on small tracks, but you can't really push in these conditions., adds Lotterer. The GMR-001 is clearly a success. It feels natural, instinctive, and it's fun to ride, even though we're still working on every aspect. »

« It's always an unknown when you take charge of a new car., adds Derani. We have high expectations, but with the GMR-001 we have a good basis to start working from. »

Engineers tackle the first minor issues

From the first morning, the team was able to complete longer stints after a few short runs. As expected during any first test, some minor issues were identified.

« It's a new car and a new engine, explains Demaison. It's normal to encounter problems, but we have a good team of engineers to resolve them as quickly as possible. »

And to clarify: That's why we do testing. We're here to detect as many problems as possible and fix them as quickly as possible. »

The breaks between days gave Genesis Magma Racing engineers time to work with their Oreca counterparts on solutions in the workshop, before validating them back on track.

Development of the GMR-001 will continue in the coming months. The next steps will focus on ensuring the car's reliability over a race distance, maximizing its performance, and confirming Genesis Magma Racing's operational structure under competitive conditions.

ALSO READ > André Lotterer (Genesis): “I consider myself one of the pioneers of this adventure”