
Photo: Genesis Magma Racing
Pipo Derani and Andre Lotterer described the prospect of taking on a long-term project as a motivating factor for signing on with the Genesis LMDh effort, which is due to debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026.
The two drivers were revealed earlier this month to have joined the Korean manufacturer as development drivers for the Oreca-chassised GMR-001 prototype, signing on after previously competing for Cadillac and Porsche, respectively.
Both Derani and Lotterer indicated that initial contact with Genesis started over the summer, with the former announcing his departure from Action Express Racing in June.
Despite a highly successful five-year tenure that included two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship titles and two Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring wins, Derani explained that a desire to join WEC in a full-time capacity played a major part in his decision.
Although he completed two LMP2 seasons earlier in his career, Derani has only sporadically appeared in the world championship in recent years with the likes of Rebellion and Glickenhaus.
“After so many years in America and having achieved so much, you start asking yourself: ‘Okay what’s next?’
“You have won Daytona, you have won Sebring, you have won the championship twice. Yes, I can stay and win and fight for a third championship. I can stay and fight for more wins at Sebring.
“But at this point in my career, there’s a greater value being involved in a program that I can develop again from the ground up than there is to stay here another three more years.
“Also for the fact that you start getting complacent. Things become easy. You know what to do, you arrive, you do what you have to do, and then you leave.
“And I was not in a position where I felt I was pushing myself to go above the limit. And when you start entering that comfort zone, it can be dangerous.
“And so that was also one of the reasons why I wanted the change and searching for that change was the motivation behind actually leaving the Action Express team when I did. So this is a big part of it.”
Derani described the decision to depart the Gary Nelson-led squad as something that was “difficult but had to be done,” adding that he was excited by the prospect to take on a long-term challenge with Genesis.
“Of course I would not have joined it if it was if it was a one or two year project,” he said.
“Because then it makes no sense to give up possible wins and championships where I was to join a program that is only going to start picking up some strong results by the end of 2027 maybe.
“It’s for sure a decision that was taken considering that the program is not gonna be a short one.”
Lotterer, for his part, explained he began looking around as it became apparent over the summer that Porsche was looking to shake up its LMDh factory driver pool ahead of the 2025 season, with the German eventually dropped as Porsche Penske Motorsport adopted a two-driver structure in WEC.
“Normally I was thinking to end my days at Porsche,” said Lotterer.
“That was always the vision I had, but not yet. I want to still have more, [have] a lot more in me and I want to race and go for bigger challenges and that was not anymore an option with Porsche.
“So before I understood even more things, I took my initiative in own hands and didn’t waste much time and looked at what I could do.
“I quickly got in touch with Cyril [Abiteboul, team principal] and he explained me about the project. So I quickly made [up] my mind.
“I thought, ‘Okay, this is a great story for me personally at that stage of my career to be able to be there right from the beginning of the journey and bring all my input and have a important role into shaping something new with the support of a great group.’
“If I look back at everything I’ve done in my career, this is also something that is actually very inspiring and fulfilling to do. And especially with all the experience I have, it’s fun to go for a course like this.
“So even though I won’t be racing next year, but I’ll race the year after. It was a no-brainer for me to go for a challenge like this and I think it’s a great opportunity.”
Lotterer added that he aims to become “an indispensable asset” to the Abiteboul-led squad ahead of what he hopes is a long-term commitment to Genesis.
“I hope so, because I’m at a stage of my career where I’m not going to change brands again,” he said.
“So it is also my mission and that would be very satisfying for me to have a big contribution in building this team, the best team there is in an ideal world with the support of everyone.
“A lot of people are going to have an input, but I want to give the maximum input [so] that the foundation is great for the years to come.
“For the drivers, future drivers to come and beyond my racing as well and still be involved in a way as a big support and a big asset, an indispensable asset for the team, basically.”
