Hyundai Motorsport is entering the endurance racing market with its high-end Genesis brand. It also intends to win the overall championship with an LMDh prototype capable of competing in the WEC Hypercar class or IMSA’s top-tier GTP category. It will compete against the greatest, including Porsche, Cadillac, and other well-known and successful racing teams throughout history. Hyundai is making a significant move to strengthen the Genesis name, although it is still being determined whether it will compete in the WEC, IMSA, or both. Success in these challenging and elite races might significantly boost Genesis’ image as a high-end performance brand. Hyundai wants to establish credibility among motorsport fans, and racing the Genesis brand alongside Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Cadillac, and BMW will help it do so. “Genesis is proud to announce its ambitious entry into the world of endurance racing through the LMDh program,” Hyundai Motorsport and Genesis stated in a joint statement, according to the FIA. “After a thorough evaluation of all available options, Genesis has determined that LMDh is the most strategic decision for us at this time, and we are actively studying initiatives to improve our reputation for excellent performance.” The prototypes in the LMDh class are the fastest and most effective at their tasks. They compete not just for class wins but also for overall victories. This means Genesis will be unable to push an existing platform to its limits; instead, they must design and develop a hybrid hypercar from the ground up. Lower classes allow manufacturers to use race versions of their road vehicles, but LMDh cars must be unique. The chassis must have a hybrid powertrain producing 500 kW (671 horsepower) and weighing at least 2,270 pounds. It must also be from one of the four recognized chassis providers: Hallara, Multimatic, Ligier, or Oreca. The 2025 season is not happening because Hyundai Motorsport and Genesis have not established a date for their LMDh entries. When Genesis does join, it will be intriguing to watch how it performs against the most well-known manufacturer racing teams in history. Hyundai has gone a long way.
