Hyundai announces entry into endurance racing with Genesis

Hyundai has confirmed its participation in endurance racing with an LMDh prototype developed under the Genesis brand. With this decision, Hyundai expands its activities in motorsport, adding endurance racing to its history in rally and touring car racing.

Prototype development in collaboration with ORECA

The design of the LMDh prototype will be carried out in collaboration with the company ORECA, responsible for the chassis, while Hyundai will handle the development of the internal combustion engine, leveraging its experience in WRC and TCR. This new project aligns with Hyundai's vision to apply technological advances that could also benefit its line of commercial vehicles.

In a statement, Hyundai explained that it chose endurance racing after analyzing various options, considering it the ideal environment to showcase its technical and design capabilities. Although specific dates were not provided, the prototype is expected to debut in 2026, participating in both the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship.

Partnerships with experienced teams

Hyundai is in discussions with several teams to partner in managing this project. Among the possible alliances are teams with experience in the LMP2 category, as well as Chip Ganassi Racing, which could manage the IMSA operation.

The future of WRC for Hyundai

Despite this new focus on endurance racing, Hyundai has not yet confirmed its continuity in the WRC beyond 2025, when the current regulatory cycle ends. Although Thierry Neuville has renewed his contract for another year, the team is still evaluating its rally presence, depending on the conditions of the championship. However, Hyundai has assured that it has the capacity to manage multiple major programs at the same time.