Genesis “Won’t Exclude” Idea of GT3 Car

Genesis boss Luc Donckerwolke has said that the brand “will not exclude” the idea of developing a GT3 car, but added that the setting up of its LMDh program will take priority in the “immediate future.”

The brand, which serves as the luxury arm of Korean automotive giant Hyundai, is set to make its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the GMR-001 LMDh car in 2026, with a program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to follow in 2027.

Currently, the majority of brands present in LMH and LMDh also have active GT3 programs, with the exception of Alpine and Peugeot.

Acura, meanwhile, is set to see its NSX GT3 Evo22 effectively phased out, while Cadillac and Toyota don’t have GT3 platforms themselves but are represented in the ruleset through sister brands Chevrolet and Lexus.

Speaking to media gathered at the brand’s LMDh launch event in Dubai, Donckerwolke was asked about the prospect of Genesis adding a presence in GT3 racing.

The Belgian, who serves as Genesis’ Chief Creative Officer and Chief Brand Officer, kept the door open to an eventual presence in GT3 but stated that setting up its prototype program will take priority in the “immediate future.”

“Obviously, when you are a motorsport brand, you basically have a wide spectrum of what we could do,” said Donckerwolke.

“And I will not exclude it, but at the time, obviously, we have to focus on setting up.

“Nine years ago, I had to create this brand. I had to set up and give it a design DNA. At the same time we were building the whole organization. That was a big task.

“I had to do this, this was my homework and then now I could I can go to the next steps with the whole team and obviously we are looking at the future.

“But the immediate future is clearly to consolidate and to be successful in WEC and IMSA. And then we will look further, but we will meet in the future.”

Meanwhile, Cyril Abiteboul, who was appointed team principal of Genesis Magma Racing, pointed out that the brand currently has no suitable road cars in its portfolio that could serve as a base to a GT3 program.

While Genesis did launch its high-performance Magma line, that currently encompasses a series of sedans and SUVs, while most active GT3s are based on supercars or grand tourers.

“The main thing with GT3 is that you also must have the right production car,” said Abiteboul.

“Yes, so that’s where it’s down to. We don’t want to go there with suboptimal products or products that would not have been designed for racing.

“So that sets the question: have we got the willingness, for me to say, to do exactly that?

“To design a product made for racing with a mass production, with a road car, with road legal variation? You know that this thing takes some use.”