On September 6, Hyundai Motor’s premium brand Genesis achieved a remarkable 7th place finish at the Lone Star Le Mans, the 5th round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) held in Texas. This marks their best performance since entering the WEC.
Hyundai reported on Monday that the Genesis Magma Racing Team’s GMR-001 hypercar, car number 17, crossed the finish line in 7th place at the Lone Star Le Mans. The event took place at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Meanwhile, the GMR-001 car number 19 finished the race in 15th position.
Genesis Magma Racing secured their second points finish of the season, showcasing improved driving capabilities and stable race management. Their first points came in May during the 2nd round at Spa, where they finished 8th.
The team effectively applied lessons learned from previous races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 6 Hours of São Paulo, to enhance their performance. Following the São Paulo round, they focused on boosting operational efficiency and race execution.
Data from a July pre-test at COTA was crucial in optimizing the car setup and tire strategy, improving their performance in high-temperature conditions.
COTA is renowned for its challenging layout, featuring high-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and rough surfaces. It’s considered one of the toughest tracks on the FIA WEC calendar. Tire management is particularly crucial here due to the high temperatures and track conditions.
Despite these challenges, both GMR-001 hypercars maintained consistent pace throughout the race and successfully crossed the finish line.
Impressively, both cars finished on the same lap as the leaders, proving their competitiveness. Completing the race without mechanical issues also marked a significant reliability milestone. This points finish in their first North American WEC race has raised expectations for the remainder of the season.
This race holds special significance as Genesis Magma Racing’s U.S. debut in the FIA WEC. The U.S. is a key market for Genesis and was where the full-scale model of the GMR-001 hypercar was first unveiled. This event has undoubtedly increased the brand’s exposure to North American motorsport enthusiasts.
Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing’s team principal, stated that the goal was for both cars to finish on the lead lap and score points. This result clearly demonstrates the team’s progress.
He added that seventh place is the best finish since joining the FIA WEC. It’ll use the data and experience from this race to further improve the performance in upcoming events.
Lee Si-hyuk, Executive Vice President of the Genesis Business Division, commented that this achievement showcases Genesis’s competitiveness on the global motorsport stage. It’ll continue to leverage the motorsport experience to strengthen the position as a global luxury brand.
Genesis Magma Racing’s next challenge will be the 6th round of the WEC, the Fuji 6 Hours, scheduled for September 27 at Fuji Speedway in Japan.