Hyundai’s Genesis WEC Hypercar Line-Up Revealed: How Powerful Are They?

Genesis Magma Racing confirms its 2026 WEC Hypercar roster, completing preparations for the GMR-001 ahead of the Qatar season opener on March 28 at Losail.

French duo Mathieu Jaminet and Paul-Loup Chatin are the final signings, rounding out a six-driver squad for Genesis’s in-house Hypercar programme.

They join André Lotterer, Pipo Derani, Mathys Jaubert, and Dani Juncadella. Jamie Chadwick continues as reserve and development driver from the manufacturer’s Trajectory pathway.

The question now is competitiveness. Genesis blends proven winners with upwardly mobile talent, aiming to contend immediately under Hypercar’s Balance of Performance framework.

Jaminet, 31, arrives as reigning IMSA champion with Porsche Penske’s 963. His record includes the 2022 GTD Pro title and the 2018 ADAC GT Masters crown.

Chatin, 34, brings triple ELMS titles and the 2023 IMSA LMP2 crown. Alpine’s breakthrough Fuji victory last season underlined his speed and race management.

Derani, 32, adds heavyweight North American pedigree with two IMSA championships and major endurance wins, including overall victory at the 2016 Daytona 24 Hours.

Juncadella arrives via an unexpected driver swap. A DTM and GT3 mainstay, he carries flagship victories at Daytona and Spa, and shows encouraging adaptability to prototypes.

Lotterer, 44, supplies high-level reference. Despite Porsche’s 2024 exit, he remains a three-time Le Mans winner and double WEC champion, with valued technical feedback and links to engineer Justin Taylor.

Genesis is weighing two versus three-driver crews for six-hour rounds. Chemistry, stint length, and weight distribution guide choices, with Derani–Lotterer–Jaubert and Chatin–Jaminet–Juncadella flagged as potential trios.

Team principal Cyril Abiteboul frames the signings as a vote of confidence in a young operation. Sporting director Gabriele Tarquini stresses a deliberate mix of champions and emerging drivers.

Track running began with the GMR-001’s first laps in August. Derani, Lotterer, Jaubert, and Juncadella have sampled the car, with programmes expanding through winter.

Chatin awaits Alpine clearance to test. Jaminet turned laps at Aragón after Bahrain, noting a different driving style demand and pledging detailed feedback to accelerate development.

On paper, Genesis pairs depth with momentum. Whether that converts into immediate Hypercar pace will hinge on testing gains and operational sharpness once racing begins.

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Zane Muniz

Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.