Genesis Makes Hypercar Class Debut at 24 Hours of Le Mans... Unveils Magma GT3 Concept

Le Mans 24 Hours Hypercar Class Debut
A New Milestone in Korean Motorsports History
Special Livery Unveiled for the Race Cars
Magma GT Concept Interior and GT3 Concept Revealed for the First Time

Genesis is embarking on a new challenge on the global motorsports stage by competing in the world’s most prestigious endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

GMR-001 #17 with special livery (left in the photo) #19 (right in the photo). Genesis

On June 12, Genesis announced that it will participate for the first time in the Hypercar class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, from June 13 to 14 local time.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the most important round of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, organized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Established in 1923, it boasts a history spanning over 100 years as the world’s most prestigious endurance race.

The winner is determined by the team that covers the greatest distance on a roughly 14-kilometer track over 24 hours. Because maintaining speed for a full day demands outstanding durability from the race car and exceptional stamina and focus from the drivers, simply completing the race is regarded as a major achievement.

Genesis’ dedicated motorsports team, Genesis Magma Racing, plans to set a new milestone in the history of Korean motorsports through its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while also proving the brand’s competitiveness in the global market.

Jose Munoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, stated, "Genesis has been the fastest-growing luxury automotive brand, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a crucial stage to validate our performance under extreme conditions. While we approach this challenge humbly, we are driven by strong determination and clear goals. The experiences gained from this race will be reflected across the development of Magma performance vehicles and our overall business operations." He added, "The process of the team working closely together and finding creative solutions amid the many variables that arise over 24 hours aligns closely with Genesis’s commitment to delivering the best vehicles, technologies, and customer experiences even in the face of uncertainty."

Proving Competitiveness by Scoring Points in Debut WEC Season

Participating in the WEC for the first time this year, Genesis Magma Racing has already demonstrated greater-than-expected competitiveness in its debut season.

Special livery applied GMR-001 #17. Genesis

Last month, the team scored points at the second round of the WEC, the Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours in Belgium, quickly proving its stable driving and operational capabilities.

Building on these experiences, Genesis now aims not only to finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans as its top priority, but also to take on the challenge of achieving meaningful results.

Si-Hyuck Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Genesis Business Division, commented, "The 24 Hours of Le Mans is both a stage where a Korean brand is competing for the first time and an important starting point for Genesis to validate new possibilities in global motorsports. Genesis Magma Racing can gain experiences and data that are difficult to obtain through regular vehicle development, by using this as a proving ground for technical innovation. The insights gained here will be expanded to future high-performance production models, delivering tangible value to customers." He added, "Going forward, we will strengthen communication with new customer segments through various touchpoints including the track and esports."

Special Livery Unveiled for ‘GMR-001’ Le Mans Debut

Genesis Magma Racing unveiled a special livery for the two GMR-001 hypercars set to debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 1. This special livery refers to the unique exterior design applied to race cars, including paintwork, sponsor logos, and graphic patterns.

This livery is based on the actual GMR-001 hypercar design revealed last year.

Inspired by the colors of ‘Magma,’ the livery features a gradient that transitions from Magma Orange at the front of the car to a deep red at the rear. This gradient, running from the front to the back, visually expresses the speed and intense energy of a high-performance race car.

The Korean lettering for ‘Magma’ is also applied to the side of the car, while the color transition from red to Magma Orange at the front and from Magma Orange to red at the rear creates a distinctive contrast.

Both cars (numbered 17 and 19) competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans feature the same livery. Car 17 is designed with an orange and black color scheme, while car 19 incorporates a white logo and additional highlights for differentiation between the vehicles.

Magma GT Concept Interior. Genesis

French film manufacturer HEXIS participated as a technical partner in realizing the livery. Considering the extreme endurance race environment—including airflow, heat, and debris at high speeds—HEXIS produced dedicated special wrapping films, which were applied to both GMR-001 hypercars. The film maintains lightness while ensuring vibrant color expression and durability.

Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Design Officer (CDO) and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Hyundai Motor Group, remarked, "Design is a core pillar for both Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing. Building on the enthusiastic fan response to last year’s Magma Orange concept livery, we have taken this year’s design to the next level." He continued, "This livery goes beyond simple racing aesthetics, embodying Genesis's performance identity through its colors and forms."

Magma GT Concept Interior and GT3 Concept Unveiled for the First Time

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Genesis also unveiled the Magma GT Concept interior design and the Magma GT3 Concept, presenting the brand’s performance vision that bridges both road cars and motorsports.

At this event, Genesis revealed the interior design of the Magma GT Concept for the first time since its initial introduction in November last year. Designed as a two-seater luxury grand tourer, this model embodies Genesis's design philosophy of "Athletic Elegance," combining both performance and emotional value.

Magma GT3 Concept. Genesis

The cabin features a twin-cockpit layout and a driver-centered architecture. Inspired by precision mechanical watches used in motorsports, analog gauges and physical controls deliver both mechanical operability and an emotional experience. Digital information is integrated in a restrained manner to maintain driver focus while ensuring intuitive information delivery.

The Magma GT3 Concept was also unveiled globally for the first time. This model is a standalone concept, not intended for mass production, and is designed to optimize race performance by reflecting GT3 technical regulations. Genesis is using this model to explore the potential for expansion into motorsports and the high-performance sector. As such, it was engineered with a focus on core elements required for racing, including aerodynamic performance, cooling efficiency, thermal management, and durability.

The chassis, designed for racing conditions with widened front and rear tracks, enhances high-speed stability and cornering performance. Functional aerodynamic devices, such as a large front splitter, enlarged intake and exhaust ducts, and door-mounted fins, were applied to control airflow and reduce lift.

Strategic structures for air intake, exhaust, and pressure relief are distributed throughout the vehicle to ensure thermal stability required under race conditions. The rear features vented structures, a fixed rear wing, and a racing diffuser to maximize aerodynamic performance.

Luc Donckerwolke stated, "The Magma GT Concept and Magma GT3 Concept represent Genesis’s vision for performance in different arenas. While the Magma GT Concept delivers luxury and dynamism on the road, the Magma GT3 Concept maximizes performance, efficiency, and purpose for the race environment." He added, "Though both concepts originated from a single idea, each demonstrates the expanding possibilities of Genesis performance within its respective domain."

Genesis is accelerating its global growth strategy and strengthening its brand presence by expanding its sales network in Europe alongside its motorsports activities. Following launches in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Spain, the company plans to enter Poland, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark next year, establishing sales bases in a total of 11 European countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.