Genesis Magma Racing will run a special livery on its two GMR-001 Hypercars in the forthcoming 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-14 June), in celebration of its debut in the legendary twice-round-the-clock contest.
The premium division of major automotive marque Hyundai, Genesis’ participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s top-tier marks the brand’s first foray into motorsport – and it is already bearing fruit, with a competitive eighth-place finish in last month’s TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
The next round of the campaign is the season’s undisputed flagship event, and Genesis’ pair of prototypes will take to the track at La Sarthe sporting a striking new look, not dissimilar to the colours displayed in the Manufacturer Village at the 2025 race.
Reflecting the vitality of Genesis’ roots, the design has been brought to life with the support of the team’s technical partner, HEXIS. It draws inspiration from the lava at the heart of the Magma name, the volcanic origins of the Korean peninsula and the presence of power beneath the surface in the country’s culture.
Featuring a gradient that transitions from the signature Magma orange at the front – a hue symbolising Korea’s vibrant energy – to deep red at the rear, evoking a sense of rising intensity, the livery mirrors both the temperature of a high-performance engine and the acoustic shift of the Doppler effect as a car passes at full speed, and has been conceived to singularly catch the Le Mans light, from the afternoon sun to the dead of night.
The two cars will be differentiated by additional white logos and highlights carried on the #19 GMR-001, compared to the orange and black of the #17 entry.
“For the entire Genesis brand, design is one of the foundational pillars,” explained Genesis Chief Creative Officer, Luc Donckerwolke. “Fans have been vocal in their love of the Magma orange concept livery unveiled last year, and as always, Genesis takes our supporters’ feedback into consideration by bringing it to reality with a bold evolution.
“Genesis’ global design department has worked hand-in-hand with the racing team to create a striking, yet lightweight livery for the biggest race of the season. More than that, it is an artful statement – where colour and form convey the unique performance identity of Genesis.”
Notwithstanding its points-scoring breakthrough in Belgium, Genesis Magma Racing is remaining humble in its ambitions for its maiden appearance at Le Mans – its first 24-hour race – aiming above all to reach the chequered flag in an event that is widely renowned for breaking cars and breaking hearts.
“The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the biggest weekend of our year,” acknowledged Team Principal, Cyril Abiteboul. “It is the toughest test we face, especially as a team in our first season in FIA WEC, but it is also our biggest opportunity to showcase Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing to the world through racing.
“Since we launched the team in December 2024, Magma has been a key part of our name and our identity, so to be able to bring Genesis Magma fully to life on-track is very important. The cars look fantastic, and we will be working hard to make sure our performance matches the level of attention that has gone into creating the designs.”
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