► Genesis set to join the WEC
► Looking to develop brand image
► Debut date not yet known
It wasn’t that long ago when the World Endurance Championship was essentially a two-horse race in the top class. Audis pitted against a revolving door of competitors like Peugeot, then Toyota, then Porsche. Today, though, it’s open season. All manner of manufacturers are getting in on the action, including… er… Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai.
Yep, Hyundai has staked its intentions to compete at the top level of endurance racing in the guise of Genesis, racing in the LMDh hypercar class. Why Genesis, when Hyundai already has a world-renowned N brand in motorsports? Well, the luxury division wants to develop its brand perception, moving away from an image that solely represents luxury to one with a renowned competitive side, too.
‘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,’ a spokesperson for Genesis said.
‘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.’
According to the World Endurance Championship organisation, Genesis’ entry is still subject to approval by the WEC Selection Committee, but both parties seem confident of the brand’s success in its application.
As for when Genesis’ racer will debut, we don’t know yet, nor do we know what technology the prototype racer may use from the production fleet, but we’ll report back as soon as we find out.
What is the LMDh class?
The LMDh class is a relatively new category in prototype sports car racing, having only arrived on the circuit last year. Unlike in the LMH class, with which LMDh runs parallel at the top of the endurance racing pyramid, all LMDh car must use a set of standardised parts from a collective bin, and so the new Genesis machine will share internals with some of its competitors.
Its monocoque, suspension and several other components will be taken from an LMP2 car, built by one of a handful of licenced constructors. Its hybrid system will also be a standardised unit, leaving principally the ICE unit and the car’s exterior design down to the manufacturer. LMH class manufactures, meanwhile, are essentially given carte blanche to design their prototype racers from the ground up.
Despite the higher degree of standardisation in LMDh cars, certain regulations apply across both classes to ensure a similar amount of performance throughout the field. Both LMH and LMDh cars must adhere to a maximum power limit, for example, while the same minimum weight figure applies to both types of car.
Who else will the Genesis car be up against?
As the LMDh class offers a cheaper way in to the WEC than LMH, a large pool of factory teams now compete in the category. Genesis will have to shirk off the likes of Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini and Alpine if it wants to enjoy any success in this league – a tough ask, given the racing pedigree of those names.
But Genesis, or more Hyundai, is not without its own pedigree in endurance racing. The manufacturer has scored Touring Car Racing class victories at the last four Nürburgring 24 Hours, competing in a race-spec version of the Elantra.