--- title: "Listen to Genesis’ Le Mans Hypercar Roar to Life for the First Time" date: "2025-07-24" modified: "2025-07-24" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/listen-to-genesis-le-mans-hypercar-roar-to-life-for-the-first-time" categories: - "News" - "Racing" - "WEC" --- # Listen to Genesis’ Le Mans Hypercar Roar to Life for the First Time ![]() *\Genesis\* Genesis has been busy assembling its racing team ahead of next year's [24 Hours of Le Mans](), and this week's announcement celebrates a milestone that the young team will remember forever. The [Genesis]() [Magma Racing’s GMR-001 Hypercar]() has officially roared to life for the first time at the team's HQ at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France. According to today's announcement, the first fire-up as a complete race car (engine mounted to the chassis) took place on July 9, under the supervision of chassis supplier Oreca, which is also based in Le Castellet near the team's shop. The first fire-up of the engine alone actually took place back in February. This footage posted to [YouTube]() shows the tension leading up to the car's first firing, which, at least on video, went without a hitch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAqCpv4ZW3I The GMR-001 will compete in the WEC Hypercar class for the entire 2026 season, which, of course, features the most famous endurance race of all, Le Mans. It's powered by a 3.2-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine, though the brand has not revealed more detailed specs. However, Genesis has not been shy about the shared technology between this engine and the 1.6-litre inline-four found in the i20 N rally car. The first rolling tests for the prototype are expected to take place next month, and sometime after that, hopefully, Genesis will tell us who will round up its driver lineup. The only two pilots confirmed so far are endurance racing veteran Pipo Derani and three-time Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()