Hyundai commits to prototype endurance racing programme

South Korean manufacturer Hyundai will commit to a prototype endurance racing programme under its Genesis brand.

Confirmed:

• The LMDh category is represented in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA SportsCar Championship
• Hyundai has not confirmed when it is looking to debut or if it is looking at an entry in one or both series

Context:

Hyundai Motorsport currently competes in the World Rally Championship (WRC), so this move represents an expansion of its sporting interest. Last year, the marque’s motorsport chief Cyril Abiteboul told RacingNews365 that, if Hyundai was to look at series outside of rallying, it would “focus on categories that do electrified technology promotion and product promotion”.

In that context, WEC is the perfect platform for Hyundai to achieve its goals. The endurance racing championship has become the focus for many manufacturers, with Ferrari, Alpine, BMW and Lamborghini all joining the series over the last two seasons. Aston Martin will also line up on the grid next year.

Comment:

A Hyundai Motorsport statement read: ‘Genesis is proud to announce its ambitious entry into the world of endurance racing through the LMDh programme.

‘Genesis is actively exploring programmes to strengthen its high-performance image, and after a thorough evaluation of various options, LMDh emerged as the most strategic choice for us at this time.

‘We have carefully analysed LMDh and found it to be a natural fit for our motorsport ambitions and a valuable platform to drive the development of future mobility technologies for road cars.

‘Endurance racing presents an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Genesis’ cutting-edge technology, design philosophy and performance-driven character in a highly competitive arena. This project is part of our broader vision for the future of mobility.’

Coming next:

There are just two rounds left of the 2024 WEC season, with the penultimate race taking place this weekend in Japan. The 6 Hours of Fuji gets underway on 15th September.

Go deeper:

• Soaring viewership, a global calendar, and blue-chip manufacturers: WEC’s CEO on the ‘golden era of endurance racing’
• Podcast | 24 Hours of Le Mans preview: The golden era of endurance racing