Genesis Magma Racing prepares for the ultimate Le Mans test
It is honestly difficult to process the leap Genesis Magma Racing is taking. After only two rounds in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the first Korean brand to ever grace the track at La Sarthe is heading into the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They are competing in the Hypercar class, which is a beast of a category filled with heavy hitters like Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac, BMW, Alpine, Peugeot, and Aston Martin. Considering this is the marque's maiden voyage into any form of motorsport, their start has been nothing short of impressive.
They have managed to keep a 100 per cent finishing record through Imola and Spa-Francorchamps. At Spa, the #17 GMR-001—shared by André Lotterer, 'Pipo' Derani, and Mathys Jaubert—took a brilliant eighth position. Watching Derani fight off a Cadillac, a Toyota, and an Alpine on old tyres was, quite simply, beautiful. With the #19 entry also showing improved pace, the team is building momentum.
Le Mans is a different animal, of course. It demands patience and reliability over raw speed. As Mathieu Jaminet noted, the team is pushing flat-out to iron out the teething troubles they have faced so far. Both Jaminet and Derani are preaching humility, yet there is a quiet confidence in the way this team has thrown itself into the deep end. Survival is the first goal, but do not be shocked if they find themselves in the thick of the fight.
