Luxurious automotive model Genesis says it did consider a possible entry into Components 1 previous to deciding that it could 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 12 months.
The WEC choice comes after it spent an excessive amount of time evaluating the place it could enter circuit racing and selecting which class would greatest swimsuit its ambition. And whereas F1 was on its radar, the corporate ultimately concluded that committing to an endurance programme was one of the best factor for it.
Luc Donckerwolke, the chief inventive officer of the Hyundai Motor Group and the Genesis automotive model, stated that whereas the corporate had a number of former F1 figures on board – together with former workforce boss Cyril Abiteboul – the choice was firmly that sportscars was a greater match for it proper now.
“Clearly, after we talk about about excessive efficiency and we talk about a attainable participation in motorsport, having individuals, key individuals, having sure expertise in motorsport and in Components 1, we clearly have talked about it [F1],” he stated.
“However clearly we’ve determined to go for endurance. The long run will inform. However to start with, we’ve 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 might not be attainable 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 at the beginning
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
“I feel the primary one is having a direct relationship to our line-up of automobiles,” he stated. ”It’s a lot nearer, and likewise the general public, the viewers, is definitely nearer to the kind of automobiles we promote.
“We thought clearly endurance racing is appropriate with our model values as properly. We do not wish to come to motorsport and do it the identical means.
“We’re extra than simply an automotive model, we’ve numerous know-how and potential that we wish to apply, not solely to clearly the automobiles, but additionally to the setting and sustainability. We intention to have, as an example, a extra sustainable logistic system with hydrogen.
“We’ve got Boston Dynamics by robotics, the place we intention to make the lifetime of the crew workforce simpler and higher by supporting them with robotics.
“So there’s numerous issues we wish to apply. This isn’t only a advertising and marketing instrument, this can be a critical discuss, as we wish to add one other worth to our motorsport programme.”
Donckerwolke additionally stated that using hybrid know-how in WEC was a essential aspect behind the selection too.
He added: “It is vitally essential 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 likewise inspiration for the design.
“We’re coming into a section the place all the things is feasible with new powertrains, so that is the proper second to get, as an example, a unique really feel, to encourage us. And this is among the huge motivations of coming into this class of motorsport racing.
Genesis LMDh
Picture by: Genesis
“However there’s additionally the aerodynamic analysis we’re doing, which is relevant greater than in case you do, as an illustration, open-wheel racing. That may be a fully completely different self-discipline, which is the place the learnings are tough to switch into regular automobiles that are our core enterprise.
“So this is the reason we consider in endurance, and likewise as a result of we’ve at all times recognized our automobiles as being just a little bit the grand tourer, the Gran Turismo automobiles, so the gentleman driver.
“And that is truly the essence of endurance racing. It has been the self-discipline of the gentleman drivers. So we consider that there’s absolute compatibility from that standpoint as properly.”
With Genesis committing to sportscars for now, workforce principal Abiteboul stated that ideas of any potential F1 programme have been very far-off.
“It is a model technique,” he stated. “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 target of today, of those years, it is greater than sufficient to execute that proper.”
On this article
Jonathan Noble
Components 1
WEC
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