Hyundai Motorsport going LMDh racing with Genesis brand

Add another manufacturer to LMDh competition: Hyundai Motorsport through the Genesis brand. No timeline has been announced for its debut, nor any series, although LMDh cars are eligible for the IMSA GTP class.

Hyundai has claimed five straight driver and team championships in the TCR class of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and four consecutive manufacturer titles (2020-’23).

Comments

Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/12/24 1:20 p.m.

Well, that's some really awesome news I wasn't expecting to read today.

I think it's extra cool that it's going to be a Genesis.

DirtyBird222 PowerDork
9/12/24 1:23 p.m.

This rumor has been lingering for a while. Pretty cool to hear and in line with the direction and trajectory of the Hyundai/KIA/Genesis brands over the last few years. It'll be interesting to see who they might partner with to develop the chassis, engine, etc.

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/12/24 1:27 p.m.

When we were at the Nurburgring 24, my Hyundai buddy asked me casually "So what would you do to increase Hyundai's high-end motorsports visibility?" and I told him "Genesis badges on GTP cars and Hyundai badges on GT3 cars." So, you're welcome.

Obviously this way May of this year, so he probably already knew this was going to happen, but I'm sure it was nice to get some validation.

Now they just need to find a GT3 car, which is going to be trickier since they don't have a RWD two door or sports car, and all the high performance street stuff they seem to be moving toward is full EV.

DirtyBird222 PowerDork
9/12/24 1:37 p.m.

JG Pasterjak said:
When we were at the Nurburgring 24, my Hyundai buddy asked me casually "So what would you do to increase Hyundai's high-end motorsports visibility?" and I told him "Genesis badges on GTP cars and Hyundai badges on GT3 cars." So, you're welcome.

Obviously this way May of this year, so he probably already knew this was going to happen, but I'm sure it was nice to get some validation.

Now they just need to find a GT3 car, which is going to be trickier since they don't have a RWD two door or sports car, and all the high performance street stuff they seem to be moving toward is full EV.

Isn't the G70 a RWD platform? Is there a rule that a GT3 has to be 2-door?

j_tso Dork
9/12/24 1:50 p.m.

I found the Genesis branding surprising, I figured they'd want to get more global recognition of the N brand.

Plus they'd have Hyundai N taking on Toyota GR in WRC and WEC.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/12/24 1:55 p.m.

JG Pasterjak said:
Obviously this way May of this year, so he probably already knew this was going to happen, but I'm sure it was nice to get some validation.

Just imagine if that wasn't the case, and your Hyundai buddy ran back to HQ and was like "Guys I have an idea that I definitely came up with all by myself."

Coniglio Rampante Reader
9/12/24 1:59 p.m.

Racer Magazine suggests Genesis may partner with Oreca and Chip Ganassi Racing. May start next year in LMP2 in the European Le Mans series to get an understanding of the sport and rules and then move up to WEC and IMSA in 2026.

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/12/24 2:04 p.m.

DirtyBird222 said:
JG Pasterjak said:
When we were at the Nurburgring 24, my Hyundai buddy asked me casually "So what would you do to increase Hyundai's high-end motorsports visibility?" and I told him "Genesis badges on GTP cars and Hyundai badges on GT3 cars." So, you're welcome.

Obviously this way May of this year, so he probably already knew this was going to happen, but I'm sure it was nice to get some validation.

Now they just need to find a GT3 car, which is going to be trickier since they don't have a RWD two door or sports car, and all the high performance street stuff they seem to be moving toward is full EV.

Isn't the G70 a RWD platform? Is there a rule that a GT3 has to be 2-door?

There's no rule from the FIA, but there probably are rules from the corporate marketing departments and I'm not sure any of the big Genesae are market correct for a GT3 run. And don't forget GT3 car have to be available to customers, so they have to be somewhat mass-produceable, so they'd have to commit to a deal where building a dozen or more cars would at least be possible should customer come-a-calling.

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/12/24 2:05 p.m.

Colin Wood said:
JG Pasterjak said:
Obviously this way May of this year, so he probably already knew this was going to happen, but I'm sure it was nice to get some validation.

Just imagine if that wasn't the case, and your Hyundai buddy ran back to HQ and was like "Guys I have an idea that I definitely came up with all by myself."

I mean I like to think that would at least get me a return invite, so i'm okay with it.

J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
9/12/24 2:42 p.m.

JG Pasterjak said:
When we were at the Nurburgring 24, my Hyundai buddy asked me casually "So what would you do to increase Hyundai's high-end motorsports visibility?" and I told him "Genesis badges on GTP cars and Hyundai badges on GT3 cars." So, you're welcome.

Obviously this way May of this year, so he probably already knew this was going to happen, but I'm sure it was nice to get some validation.

Now they just need to find a GT3 car, which is going to be trickier since they don't have a RWD two door or sports car, and all the high performance street stuff they seem to be moving toward is full EV.

Maybe the Hyundai N Vision 74 concept, which reports say is happening, will become the RWD ICE car we're craving.