Genesis’ FIA WEC debut in 2026 should still really feel like a great distance away, however with 2025 proper across the nook, the South Korean model’s new GMR-001 LMDh prototype shall be observe testing, then racing, earlier than we all know it.
Thus far, the younger producer’s strategy to constructing its first-ever sportscar racing program has been solely smart.
Quite than go down the route of creating a completely bespoke LMH-spec chassis, it has opted to companion with ORECA for the extra streamlined LMDh choice. It’ll additionally spend the 2025 season with IDEC Sport within the ELMS alongside creating and observe testing the 001 forward of homologation, to assist its workers rise up to hurry with ACO-rules prototype racing earlier than leaping into the WEC.
Its driver lineup is coming collectively properly too. Signing up reigning FIA WEC Hypercar Drivers’ World Champion Andre Lotterer and two-time IMSA champion Pipo Derani to turn into the model’s manufacturing facility drivers was a daring, headline-grabbing transfer.
Genesis, rightly, feels bringing extremely profitable established prototype drivers on board at this embryonic stage for this system is greater than only a flashy assertion.
Each drivers have joined this undertaking at totally different factors of their profession timeline, but seem equally prepared for a recent begin after parting methods with main race and title-winning factories. The pitch from crew principal Cyril Abiteboul was clearly a convincing one as they discovered themselves open to taking a giant threat with an unknown amount.
For 43-year-old Lotterer, who’s recent from a title-winning marketing campaign with Porsche in Hypercar, this seems to be the ultimate main transfer in his driving profession. Together with his unique plans to stick with the German marque till retirement scuppered, the chance to assist set up a brand new model within the sport had a transparent enchantment.
Contemporary from a championship with Porsche, Lotterer is now chasing a 3rd title with a 3rd totally different producer. JEP/Motorsport Photos
“I used to be having a fantastic run with Kevin (Estre) and Laurens (Vanthoor) for the WEC championship (in 2024), and if you find yourself in a scenario like this you look to construct for the longer term,” he explains to RACER. “However in the summertime I heard that the crew may change from three to 2 drivers for many races and scale back the driving force pool.
“Usually I’d assume to finish my days at Porsche, that was the imaginative and prescient I had, however not but. I nonetheless have much more in me, I need to race, nevertheless it wasn’t an choice with Porsche so I took the initiative, didn’t waste a lot time and checked out what I may do.”
Thus, Lotterer discovered himself in talks with Abiteboul and ready to signal on the dotted line.
“I received in contact with Cyril and he defined to me what the undertaking appeared like. I felt it could be a fantastic story for me personally to be there in the beginning of a journey, deliver all my enter and have an essential function.
“If I look again, after every thing I’ve carried out in my profession, that is inspiring and fulfilling and it’s enjoyable to do a undertaking like this. Although I received’t be racing subsequent yr, it was a no brainer for me.”
With Abiteboul making it clear on the Genesis program launch earlier this month in Dubai that the younger model is dedicated by means of to at the very least the top of the present regulation cycle, Lotterer’s in depth LMP1 and Hypercar expertise seems to be set to be put to make use of for years to return.
“I hope to stick with Genesis,” he says when requested about his degree of dedication. “I’m on the stage of my profession the place I’m not going to alter manufacturers once more. It could be satisfying for me to make a giant contribution to constructing this crew and making it the very best there’s, with the help of everybody. “
He’s below no illusions that constructing this crew right into a title contender in such a deep Hypercar discipline shall be extraordinarily powerful. However, as he factors out, there’s good cause to imagine that Genesis can turn into aggressive within the quick to medium time period, as present rules are extra pleasant and attractive for aspirant producers.
The ultra-expensive, cutting-edge LMP1 Hybrid days now look like a distant reminiscence. With the present period of convergence, whereas not as cost-effective as initially meant, it’s potential to develop a brand-new automotive, and race it, without having to pump lots of of tens of millions of Euros, Kilos or {Dollars} right into a program annually to be aggressive.
“The chance is there, there shall be bumps within the highway however should you examine it to getting into an LMP1 program again within the day, it wouldn’t be potential to do what we’re doing in such a brief time frame,” he continues.
“When Porsche determined to do LMP1 it took them years to place collectively assets and within the first yr they have been nowhere. Right here, you could have a companion like ORECA which provides you a superb base and a confirmed base. This makes it simpler for a crew to enter and succeed with LMDh. It’s going to be all the way down to us to place collectively the fitting software program and powertrain and extract reliability from the automotive.
“However there are positively alternatives to do one thing early. Will probably be intense within the build-up and the extra the crew grows the extra I shall be concerned. I stay in Monaco and it’s primarily based in Paul Ricard, so I can simply go there any day.”
His pursuit of a fourth total Le Mans win and third WEC title with a 3rd producer is underway and it seems to be set to be an intriguing storyline to trace as we navigate the second half of the present decade.
Derani, however, took a giant threat. At 31 years outdated and within the midst of his ‘prime’, the Brazilian determined to guess on himself by asserting his departure from Cadillac and Motion Specific mid-season in 2024 to chase a WEC drive.
That is one thing that Common Motors was unable to supply him when he was seeking to safe his 2025 plans. Crucially, he says, the ultimate name on Hertz Staff JOTA’s new two-car WEC program with the V-Collection.R got here too late, at that time he had already made up his thoughts.
Derani walked away from Cadillac for a WEC probability with Genesis. Michael L. Levitt/Motorsport Photos
“I needed to make a tough determination,” Derani displays in dialog with RACER.
“I used to be in contact with different producers; it was wanting good and I had a contract supply to remain too. However I had the will to return and do WEC sooner or later in my profession. I used to be combating for that as a result of I knew if I signed for the years they supplied to remain, it could have been tough to make this transfer, so I made a decision to go away.
“This transfer made sense for a lot of causes. First, I wished to do WEC sooner or later in my profession. The second is that I wanted a brand new problem after so a few years in America.”
With wins at Sebring and Daytona below his belt, plus two IMSA Drivers’ titles, Derani felt he wanted a change of surroundings.
“After you’ve achieved a lot you ask your self: ‘what’s subsequent’?” he says. “Sure I can keep and win and battle for a 3rd championship or extra wins at Sebring however at this level in my profession, there’s a better worth in constructing a program from the bottom up.
“You begin getting complacent. Issues began to turn into simple and I received to a degree the place I wasn’t pushing myself to go over the restrict. Whenever you begin getting into that consolation zone it may be harmful.
“Trying to find that change was the motivation behind leaving Motion Specific once I did. I needed to make daring selections once I was not signed with anyone, nevertheless it was essential to make the choice myself, and persist with what I believed as a result of if I attempted it in three or 4 years time it could have been tough. It needed to be carried out.”
The one actual draw back is that he won’t be seen within the prime class of IMSA or the WEC in 2025, whereas he focuses on serving to Genesis develop the GMR-001. However subsequent yr won’t be a quiet one for Derani – or Lotterer for that matter – within the build-up to this system’s race debut, with numerous hours of simulator work and an intense observe testing schedule to return.
“I completed one contract someday and began this one the subsequent,” Derani concludes. “The work has already began.”
