Genesis Magma Racing will arrive at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a striking new look as the brand prepares for the biggest challenge of its debut FIA World Endurance Championship campaign.
The premium division of Hyundai entered the WEC’s top category this season, marking Genesis’ first step into motorsport. Although the programme remains young, the team has already shown encouraging progress after securing a competitive eighth-place finish at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
Now, Genesis will take its pair of prototypes to La Sarthe for the season’s flagship event. The team will do so with a livery that gives the Magma identity a more dramatic visual presence on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
Genesis brings Magma identity to Le Mans
Genesis created the new Le Mans design with support from technical partner HEXIS. The livery takes inspiration from the Magma name, the volcanic origins of the Korean peninsula and the idea of power beneath the surface in Korean culture.
The design moves from Genesis’ signature Magma orange at the front to a deep red at the rear. As a result, it creates a sense of rising intensity across the car. The colour shift also reflects the heat of a high-performance engine and the changing sound of a car passing at full speed through the Doppler effect.
In addition, Genesis designed the livery to stand out across the full rhythm of Le Mans, from afternoon sunlight to night running. The team will also distinguish its two cars through different detailing. The #19 GMR-001 will carry additional white logos and highlights, while the #17 entry will retain an orange and black look.
“For the entire Genesis brand, design is one of the foundational pillars,” explained Genesis Chief Creative Officer, Luc Donckerwolke. “Fans have been vocal in their love of the Magma orange concept livery unveiled last year, and as always, Genesis takes our supporters’ feedback into consideration by bringing it to reality with a bold evolution.
“Genesis’ global design department has worked hand-in-hand with the racing team to create a striking, yet lightweight livery for the biggest race of the season. More than that, it is an artful statement – where colour and form convey the unique performance identity of Genesis.”
A major showcase for a young programme
Genesis Magma Racing heads to Le Mans after taking an important step forward at Spa-Francorchamps. Its eighth-place finish in Belgium gave the team a points-scoring breakthrough and showed early signs of competitiveness in a demanding Hypercar field.
However, Le Mans will present a very different test. The race demands reliability, consistency, clean execution and strong decision-making across 24 hours. For a team in its first WEC season, the challenge will stretch every part of the operation.
Even so, Genesis has a major opportunity to showcase both its racing project and its wider performance identity. The new livery brings the Magma concept into the racing environment in a more complete way, while the event itself gives the brand a global stage.
Genesis targets the chequered flag
Despite its progress at Spa, Genesis Magma Racing has set realistic expectations for its first Le Mans appearance. The team will focus above all on reaching the finish in a race that regularly punishes even the most experienced manufacturers.
Le Mans has built its reputation on both triumph and heartbreak. Therefore, Genesis will need to balance ambition with discipline as it tackles its first 24-hour race.
“The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the biggest weekend of our year,” acknowledged Team Principal, Cyril Abiteboul. “It is the toughest test we face, especially as a team in our first season in FIA WEC, but it is also our biggest opportunity to showcase Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing to the world through racing.
“Since we launched the team in December 2024, Magma has been a key part of our name and our identity, so to be able to bring Genesis Magma fully to life on-track is very important. The cars look fantastic, and we will be working hard to make sure our performance matches the level of attention that has gone into creating the designs.”
Le Mans offers Genesis its biggest test yet
Genesis Magma Racing has already taken meaningful steps in its first WEC campaign, but Le Mans will give the programme its clearest measure yet. The new livery adds visual impact, while the race itself will test the team’s endurance credentials over a full day of competition.
For Genesis, the goal remains clear. The team wants to bring its cars to the chequered flag, build experience and use Le Mans to strengthen the identity of its young motorsport project.
If it can combine reliability with the progress it showed at Spa, Genesis could leave La Sarthe with another important milestone in its first season.
