Genesis ‘Wants to Take Bit of Time’ Selecting U.S. Partner

Genesis aims to have a selection process for its partner team in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship completed in the second quarter of 2025 according to Hyundai head of motorsport Cyril Abiteboul.

The Korean brand confirmed on Wednesday that it will join the WeatherTech Championship’s GTP class with a two-car effort in 2027, fielding the Oreca-chassised GMR-001 LMDh car.

In contrast to the FIA World Endurance Championship, where it will operate an in-house entry under the Genesis Magma Racing banner, the U.S. program will be run with a partner team.

Abiteboul stated on Wednesday that a decision on who will fill that partner role has not yet been reached, although it’s understood that multiple parties have been in discussions.

He told reporters that Genesis plans to make a definitive choice regarding the operator of its WeatherTech Championship program by mid next year, stressing the brand ‘wants to take a bit of time’ before choosing a team.

“We were at Road Atlanta, at Petit Le Mans, and we’ve had a number of discussions with interested parties,” said Abiteboul.

“Obviously we totally understand that they would like to know as early as possible, and we totally understand that, and it’s not our intent to compromise any start of a ramp-up plan. 

“But equally, we feel it’s an important choice when I look at all the sort of difficulties that can arise, tensions that can arise in different types of circumstances between the carmaker and the partner team. 

“So we want to take a bit of time to make sure that we do the right choice for us.

“Realistically, I feel it’s a decision to be made in Q2 of 2025. That’s actually a timeline that we shared with most of the people that we met. 

“Again, we had expressions of interest and we feel that it’s workable timing for everyone just for us to be ready to make the right selection and then from any partner will be selected and to ramp up and be ready. 

“Because let’s not forget to be ready for 2027. Clearly with some activity in 2026 but properly you know the race will start in in 2027.”

When asked if he has any preferences with regards to the background of the partner outfit, Abiteboul outlined that he is open to the notion of working with a team that has no previous experience in prototype racing, as long as they have a familiarity with the WeatherTech Championship.

“I think the one thing we really want is people who have got experience of IMSA championship,” he said.

“Myself, I have absolutely no expertise myself of American racing, IMSA racing, so I would feel much more comfortable if anyone got that. 

“Prototype experience is not a must. It’s clearly not a must. I think once again, it’s going to be down probably to the cultural fit, how can we build a one team approach. I’m really insisting on that one team approach. 

“I don’t want to see the WEC program on one side, the IMSA program on the other side, and those two not talking to each other. 

“It’s an opportunity. It’s more data, more information, larger group, drivers, cars, you name it. So I really want a partner who’s prepared to embrace what we do in WEC, prepared to build something as one team thing. 

“That’s the sort of discussion we want to take the time to do in the first half of 2025.”

Abiteboul Open to Further Collaboration With IDEC Sport Beyond 2025

Also on Wednesday, Genesis revealed it has agreed to a deal with LMP2 stalwarts IDEC Sport that will see the French squad work on ‘people development,’ running Genesis staff and potential LMDh drivers in the European Le Mans Series next year.

It has been outlined that the purpose of that partnership is to get the relevant personnel ready for the factory WEC effort in 2026.

However, Abiteboul hinted that he would be open to continuing to work with IDEC beyond the initial LMP2 involvement, should the partnership prove fruitful to the parties involved.

“Frankly, when I look at what’s going on in this space, I see actually formal or casual connection between LMDh and LMP2, between WEC and ELMS,” Abiteboul said.

“We know that some teams have got official or unofficial programs. But I believe that’s probably something that will be a requirement also of ours. Under what shape or form, I don’t know. 

“But I want to believe that if we are happy of working together in 2025, we would have no reason not to expand into 2026. 

“Probably under a different program because the sort of HR side of things, people development side of things will be hopefully done by then.

“But again probably the driver’s side will probably be something that’s going to be an ongoing process.”