Genesis Is Going Racing With This GMR-001 Hypercar

• This prototype will serve as the basis for Genesis' entry into the 2026 World Endurance Championship and 2027 IMSA Sports Car Championship.
• A full-size GMR-001 prototype will be on display at the 2025 New York Auto Show.
• The design of both the car and the race suits have hints of Genesis' Korean roots.

Genesis' efforts to break into racing have taken another step forward with the debut of the full-size GMR-001 hypercar prototype at the 2025 New York Auto Show this week. We first saw a mock-up of the GMR-001 in miniature at the end of 2024, but this is the first time we're seeing the car all grown-up, and with its striking orange livery, it will be hard to miss when it starts to take turns around some of the world's most famous tracks, like Daytona and Le Mans.

While full specifications remain on lockdown, we know that a hybrid powertrain will be wrapped in a vehicle that carries forward several distinct Genesis design cues like the two-line lighting that stretches nearly the full width of the rear, as well as bright orange Magma paint that darkens into shades of red. The first models of the car were black, so this is a welcome change. If you look closely, the Korean Hangeul lettering for the word "magma" has also been incorporated into the car's livery as well as the drivers' racing suits.

The car was developed in conjunction with Oreca Motorsport, and Genesis' goal is to have the car begin competing in the World Endurance Championship starting in 2026, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship as well in 2027. With the chassis and electric motor being homologated for this series, development has focused on the V8 engine, and testing on that will start this summer. Genesis also announced the drivers who will be aiding in the development process and piloting the car when it enters competition, Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani. And overseeing the program as team principal is Cyril Abiteboul, the former team principal of Renault and of "Drive to Survive" fame.

While there haven't been any hints on any of the designs or learnings from this car making it into Genesis' road cars, we don't mind too much because looking at the race car is still cool. And if you want to get a closer look at both the GMR-001 and the racing suits, both will be on display at the 2025 New York International Auto Show.