Genesis Hypercar Reaches Milestone: V8 Engine Fires Up for First Time
Genesis's V8-powered hypercar program has reached a crucial development milestone with the successful first fire-up of its WRC-derived twin-turbo engine at Hyundai Motorsport's headquarters. The engine will power the ORECA-based GMR-001 LMDh prototype in WEC Hypercar class from 2026 and IMSA GTP from 2027.
Genesis GMR-001 hypercar on track
The V8 engine shares approximately 60% of its components with Hyundai Motorsport's WRC inline-four engine, which follows FIA's Global Race Engine regulations. This strategic decision was made to leverage proven technology and accelerate development.
Gray metal engine with connecting pipes
Key Development Timeline:
- Design work started: June 2024
- Design completion: October 2024
- First engine assembly: Early 2025
- First successful fire-up: February 2025
The project benefits from Hyundai Motorsport's in-house engine production capabilities, established since 2017. Their powertrain department has expanded to include comprehensive design, testing, electronics, and software divisions.
Next Steps:
- Comprehensive bench testing
- Integration with GMR-001 gearbox and hybrid unit
- Track testing later in 2025
The development team will progressively increase testing intensity, ultimately simulating Le Mans race conditions on specialized dynamometers before moving to on-track validation.