Second, Third Place Not Good Sufficient for Genesis Motorsports

[ad_1] Genesis is economically profitable as a automotive firm however their motorsports division is probably too profitable, firm president and chief inventive officer Luc Donckerwolke instructed Newsweek throughout an interview at The Nationwide AutoMuseum - The Loh Assortment this autumn.

The automaker, a division of Hyundai Motor Group, is utilizing the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season as an prolonged testing session forward of the corporate’s official entry into the collection in 2026, racing alongside fashions from different automakers together with Ferrari and Porsche.

The corporate plans to enter the automotive within the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s GTP class from 2027.

<img id="11036925" alt="Genesis Magma Racing team drivers" caption="Genesis Magma Racing team drivers." credit="Genesis" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1080" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 1024px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-4.png?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-4.png?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-4.png?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-4.png?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-4.png?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-4.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-4.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> “He actually doesn't need to make us take any shortcuts,” Donckerwolke stated, describing the corporate’s motorsports directive from Hyundai Motor Group government chair and CEO Euisin Chung.

Donckerwolke talked of exhibiting Chung images and video of the group testing within the south of France within the early days of Genesis Magma Racing. The president shared Chung’s response saying, “He stated, clearly, second place or third place will not be sufficient. Inform me what you could win.”

He continued: “He might say it is adequate to be racing towards Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, and so on. Ferrari. No, he needs to win and he is prepared to speculate.”

However, there are strings hooked up to that funding. Chung doesn't need the corporate’s portfolio of passenger automobiles to undergo whereas consideration can also be paid to the motorsports program. “He isn't going to spend money on a motorsport program to win if the product is definitely being compromised,” Donckerwolke stated.

Coaching at the moment for tomorrow’s success Genesis group drivers André Lotterer and Luis “Pipo” Derani drove the GMR-001 Hypercar in WEC this season below the challenge title Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program. Jamie Chadwick joined the trouble and has signed to remain as a Program driver by means of 2026.

<img id="11036923" alt="Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Hypercar" caption="Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Hypercar." credit="Genesis" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1080" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 1024px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-2.png?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-2.png?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-2.png?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-2.png?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-2.png?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-2.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-2.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> “Because the starting of the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program, we focused high 5 outcomes, and difficult for podiums,” stated Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director Gabriele Tarquini in a late October press launch. “We've far exceeded that with three race wins from six races, and another nice particular person and group performances.”

Regardless of the group’s standout efficiency whereas trialing this 12 months, Donckerwolke expects it to take “two, three years” to be a contender for the WEC championship.

Will Genesis enter F1? When pressed about future race collection plans, together with System One, Donckerwolke stated, “We see all the opposite ones. However for the time being, we'll give attention to [WEC]. First, we now have Kilimanjaro to climb, after which we may have Everest.”

He continued the analogy saying, “We've a long-term technique, however we won't do the following steps if we're not profitable in step one. We, for the time being, are saying that we do not have a look at the opposite peaks and mountains to climb. We are saying we should be profitable climbing this one.”

Ranging from zero in Korea Donckerwolke identified that it’s vital to notice that Korea and Hyundai Motor Group have traditionally not been concerned in motorsports. It’s solely within the final decade that it has really invested in its efforts.

“Motorsport is one thing which is new to Korea. It's about producing one other stage of emotional binding with the model. And, it is vitally vital as a result of it brings one other stage of competitiveness,” he stated.

“It is about by no means resting in your laurels. It’s additionally about studying to do issues which aren't forbidden, as an alternative of doing issues which can be allowed. It is a totally different mentality. If you wish to be innovating, it's important to learn between the strains of the foundations, and it's important to do issues that individuals did not suppose to forbid, and that signifies that issues that your opponents didn't do. This can be a mentality that we now have to convey into the corporate, as a result of Koreans are very, very respectful of the foundations.”

Donckerwolke famous the pace with which the Genesis motorsports program spun up. He proposed this system, together with the prices, to the manager chair and inside 4 days he had a solution. Eleven months later, the group was testing in France with a group and a automotive. “This exhibits that you would be able to dream and you may make these desires a actuality,” he stated. November 2025 marks 13 months because the program was accredited.

<img id="11036926" alt="Jamie Chadwick of Genesis Magma Racing" caption="Jamie Chadwick in a Genesis Magma Racing car." credit="Genesis" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1080" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 1024px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-6.png?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-6.png?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-6.png?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-6.png?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-6.png?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-6.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Genesis-Magma-Racing-6.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> Studying from classes of the previous Earlier than he labored for Hyundai Motor Group, Donckerwolke labored for Volkswagen Group, which was the topic of the infamous Volkswagen emissions scandal (often known as Dieselgate). A decade in the past, numerous world authorities companies started an investigation that might finally reveal that Volkswagen had manipulated the emissions testing outcomes of 11 million automobiles globally. The automobiles emitted 40 instances extra nitrogen oxide than they registered.

Eight now-former Volkswagen executives had been charged with crimes associated to the scandal. As of Could 2025, 4 had been convicted in German courts, with two receiving multi-year jail sentences.

“I had been working for a bunch that destroyed itself by not being respectful of the foundations and this was an enormous mistake. You must watch out, however on the identical time, it's important to watch out to not be too cautious, as a result of in any other case you keep behind and the others innovate, and then you definately suppose [that you] ought to have seen that chance,” he stated.

He described arriving in Korea and realizing there the automotive tradition scene was in its infancy saying, “Once I arrived 10 years in the past in Korea, I used to be extremely pissed off. I stated, ‘Okay, the place's the automotive scene? The place's the automobiles and occasional? The place's the following race?’ And folks would have a look at me and say, ‘What are you speaking about?’”

Creating younger, Korean automotive fanatics Donckerwolke’s work is reduce out for him. “I want the Koreans to see greater than the novelty, to be drawn to a product. I want them to be emotionally drawn to the model. And for me, that involves the purpose of making a motorsport scene in Korea,” he stated.

<img id="11036924" alt="Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Hypercar on the track" caption="Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Hypercar on the track." credit="Genesis" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1080" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 1024px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-3.png?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-3.png?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-3.png?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-3.png?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-3.png?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-3.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Geensis-Magma-Racing-3.png?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> That begins with the youth. Whereas many Koreans develop up aspiring to be championship golfers and baseball gamers, Donckerwolke is dedicated to serving to younger Koreans get curious about motorsports and hopes some develop up dreaming of being race automotive drivers.

“Baseball has developed to virtually a nationwide sport in Korea, after golf, in very quick time, 10 years or so. Let's face it, the earlier generations had loads to combat for to rebuild the nation, and now instantly the nation is opening to new universes, new ecosystems, new developments. And, a part of [that newness] may be motorsport,” he stated.