Hyundai Steps Up to Top Rung of Sports Car Racing via Genesis

Details are scarce, but Hyundai has announced that it will go racing in the topmost class in sports car racing. The company produced the following statement Thursday:

Genesis is proud to announce its ambitious entry into the world of endurance racing through the LMDh program. Genesis is actively exploring programs 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 analyzed 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.

Hyundai/Genesis obviously provided no information about when this program would happen. It would be impossible for Genesis to start racing in 2024, and it's unlikely for 2025, but we have no idea how far the hybrid Genesis LMDh program has progressed behind the scenes. A debut in 2026 seems the most probable.

Hyundai has had a favorable experience the last few years in IMSA racing, but that has been in the entry-level TCR class in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series, where the company has raced Velosters and Elantras. Moving up to LMDh is the ultimate step up. Since 2019, Hyundai, with Bryan Herta Autosport, has claimed five driver's championships. There's no word of whether Herta would be involved in the new team, but Hyundai is known to hold the ex-IndyCar driver and his teams in high regard. Besides IMSA, Hyundai has also had class victories in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring as well as in rally racing.

According to IMSA, "The car would be eligible to compete in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, though no series or timeline to begin competing were mentioned." The car may also race in the mostly European World Endurance Championship, a calendar that includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Facing off against premium manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac, and BMW could give Genesis the performance chops it now lacks.