Genesis Completes First Full-Scale LMDh Test

Genesis has completed its first full-scale test with its GMR-001 LMDh challenger at Paul Ricard ahead of the car’s FIA World Endurance Championship debut next year.

The Hyundai-owned luxury brand, which will also enter the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2027, revealed the new machine completed more than 500 laps — equalling around 2,900 kilometers — over the course of five days late last month.

It followed the car’s initial shakedown at the nearby Circuit du Var earlier in August.

Genesis’s main focus for this test was on “confirming software configurations for the car’s major systems”, with development drivers Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani taking turns at the wheel, although work on improving the balance was also carried out.

“We had a programme that we were able to follow, so that’s very promising for the whole team,” said Genesis Magma Racing technical director Francois Xavier Demaison.

“At the moment, we’re purely focused on software, especially in the powertrain. It’s a hybrid car with many features that we need to manage properly.”

Chief engineer Justin Taylor added: “We’re getting to the point already where we are talking about the performance of the car, which I didn’t honestly expect to be.

“The drivers are giving us the feedback we need on all the systems and on the side, they’re already looking at how to make the GMR-001 Hypercar fast.”

Genesis was able to begin long runs as early as the first morning of the test, which was not held over consecutive days but with a break to allow the engineers time to analyze the data and implement further improvements together with chassis builder ORECA.

Lotterer and Derani offered cautious praise for the Korean marque’s new machine despite “minor issues” being identified, per a team statement.

“We had some driving on the smaller tracks, but you can’t really push there,” said Lotterer. “The GMR-001 Hypercar is obviously well born – the feedback is very natural, instinctive and it’s fun to drive, but we are still working on everything.”

Derani added: “It’s always an unknown when you jump into a new car. You have high expectations, but with the GMR-001 we have a good base to start working from.”

The Paul Ricard test marked the start of what Genesis has described as an “extensive” program of tests for the GMR-001 ahead of its race debut in the opening round of the 2026 WEC season next March, the Qatar 1812km.

Genesis has yet to name additional drivers for the program besides Lotterer and Derani.