Luxurious automotive model Genesis says it did consider a possible entry into Formulation 1 previous to deciding that it might decide to an LMDh programme for the 2026 World Endurance Championship as an alternative.
The South Korean producer formally launched its Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar plans forward of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Dubai, revealing a scale mannequin and pictures of the automotive idea that may start testing subsequent yr.
The WEC resolution comes after it spent an excessive amount of time evaluating the place it might enter circuit racing and selecting which class would finest go well with its ambition. And whereas F1 was on its radar, the corporate ultimately concluded that committing to an endurance programme was the perfect factor for it.
Luc Donckerwolke, the chief artistic officer of the Hyundai Motor Group and the Genesis automotive model, mentioned that whereas the corporate had a number of former F1 figures on board – together with former crew boss Cyril Abiteboul – the choice was firmly that sportscars was a greater match for it proper now.
“Clearly, once we focus on about excessive efficiency and we focus on a potential participation in motorsport, having folks, key folks, having sure expertise in motorsport and in Formulation 1, we clearly have talked about it [F1],” he mentioned.
“However clearly we now have determined to go for endurance. The long run will inform. However initially, we now have a mission, and the mission is endurance racing. After which let’s meet in some years, and we’d then open up, however for the time being, that is actually clear. Our mission is endurance.”
Donckerwolke defined that there have been key advantages to being concerned in WEC that may not be potential from an F1 entry.
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24, the remainder of the sphere firstly
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
“I feel the primary one is having a direct relationship to our line-up of vehicles,” he mentioned. ”It’s a lot nearer, and in addition the general public, the viewers, is definitely nearer to the kind of automobiles we promote.
“We thought clearly endurance racing is suitable with our model values as nicely. We do not need to come to motorsport and do it the identical means.
“We’re extra than simply an automotive model, we now have a whole lot of know-how and potential that we want to apply, not solely to clearly the automobiles, but in addition to the setting and sustainability. We purpose to have, for instance, a extra sustainable logistic system with hydrogen.
“Now we have Boston Dynamics via robotics, the place we purpose to make the lifetime of the crew crew simpler and higher by supporting them with robotics.
“So there’s a whole lot of issues we need to apply. This isn’t only a advertising and marketing device, it is a critical discuss, as we need to add one other worth to our motorsport programme.”
Donckerwolke additionally mentioned that using hybrid know-how in WEC was a essential ingredient behind the selection too.
He added: “It is extremely vital for us to race and to get a return on funding. And by that, I do not imply advertising and marketing or no matter. I imply in addition to technological know-how, and in addition inspiration for the design.
“We’re coming into a part the place all the pieces is feasible with new powertrains, so that is the proper second to get, for instance, a unique really feel, to encourage us. And this is among the massive motivations of coming into this class of motorsport racing.
Genesis LMDh
Photograph by: Genesis
“However there’s additionally the aerodynamic analysis we’re doing, which is relevant greater than should you do, as an example, open-wheel racing. That could be a utterly completely different self-discipline, which is the place the learnings are tough to switch into regular automobiles that are our core enterprise.
“So that is why we imagine in endurance, and in addition as a result of we now have at all times recognized our vehicles as being just a little bit the grand tourer, the Gran Turismo vehicles, so the gentleman driver.
“And that is really the essence of endurance racing. It has been the self-discipline of the gentleman drivers. So we imagine that there’s absolute compatibility from that standpoint as nicely.”
With Genesis committing to sportscars for now, crew principal Abiteboul mentioned that ideas of any potential F1 programme have been very distant.
“It is a model technique,” he mentioned. “I feel what we’re doing and what we’re saying now makes full sense from a model technique. And I feel that is the main focus of nowadays, of those years, it is greater than sufficient to execute that proper.”
On this article
Jonathan Noble
Formulation 1
WEC
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to information alerts
