In-keeping with the Friday theme at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Genesis has announced several key appointments for its forthcoming FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar programme – including a multiple touring car champion.
Like McLaren and Ford – both of whom similarly held press conferences today (13 June) – Genesis is set to join FIA WEC’s burgeoning top-tier, albeit one year earlier than its British and American counterparts, with Genesis Magma Racing due to make its competitive debut in the series’ 2026 curtain-raising contest in Qatar next March.
The brand’s GMR-001 Hypercar will use an ORECA chassis and high-performance V8-configuration powertrain, streamlining development by leveraging parent company Hyundai Motorsport’s existing FIA World Rally Championship engine technology.
Genesis Magma Racing will be led by Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul with the support of Technical Director François-Xavier Demaison, while three further major roles have now also been confirmed – including that of Team Manager, Anouck Abadie. The Frenchwoman has previously worked within the FIA and with leading endurance teams in managerial positions, most recently with GT squad Kessel Racing.
“This new project gives us the opportunity to start from a white board, and we can build a strong team of motivated people who share our vision,” Abadie enthused. “It will be challenging for sure, but that’s why it’s even more exciting. I can’t wait to see our car in action on-track!”
Justin Taylor becomes Chief Engineer, with the American having recently acted as Race Engineer for leading prototype teams in both FIA WEC and North America’s IMSA series.
“Joining Genesis Magma Racing is very exciting for me,” the American acknowledged. “Coming on-board in the Chief Engineer role allows me a chance to develop our team and the GMR-001 Hypercar from the ground up, to be ready for the 2026 FIA WEC season and beyond.”
Sporting Director duties, finally, will be fulfilled by Gabriele Tarquini. The Italian is one of the most successful touring car drivers of all time, having won the British, European and World Championship titles, as well as the inaugural WTCR FIA World Touring Car Cup in 2018 with Hyundai Motorsport.
Between them, the trio bring vast knowledge from different areas of the sport and will integrate into the existing structure alongside team members from Hyundai Motorsport as part of Genesis Magma Racing’s trajectory programme. Abadie and Taylor will take up their roles immediately in order to be in-place for the first on-track tests planned later this year.
“Anouck, Justin and Gabriele are fantastic additions to the team,” commented Abiteboul. “Their experience will be essential to the successful operation of Genesis Magma Racing and the GMR-001 through our testing this year as we prepare to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year.”
Genesis will be represented on-track in this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, with trajectory programme drivers Jamie Chadwick and Mathys Jaubert joined by double world champion André Lotterer – three times a winner of the famous race – behind the wheel of the #18 IDEC Sport LMP2 category entry, which will start from 14th on the grid in-class.
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