Auto Racing

Genesis Magma Racing will return to European competition for the 6 Hours of Barcelona presented by Visit Qatar, scheduled for 16–18 October 2026. The penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season follows the 6 Hours of Fuji, where the team showed front-running potential but lost ground after late penalties. In an interview published by FIA WEC on 14 October 2026, Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said the team needed to improve its operational execution as well as its car, arguing that mistakes were not a prerequisite for progress. At Fuji Speedway, Genesis’ two GMR-001 Hypercars qualified third and fifth on the grid. The #19 car, shared by Daniel Juncadella, Paul-Loup Chatin and Mathieu Jaminet, was in contention for a maiden podium before the closing stages. With less than 45 minutes remaining, drive-through penalties affected both entries. The #17 was penalised for failing to respect the black-and-orange flag, while the #19 received a penalty for speeding under yellow-flag conditions. The penalties sent both cars down the Hypercar field, and Genesis left Fuji without a podium. Abiteboul described the Fuji result as a mix of encouragement and frustration: Genesis had been able to compete near the front, but had not secured the result. He said the team should not use the programme’s youth as an excuse for mistakes. The Fuji race was only Genesis Magma Racing’s sixth in the championship. The team had no previous tyre data at the circuit, but Chief Engineer Justin Taylor said its qualifying simulations had shown the car was performing well and that preparations for a possible cancellation of qualifying proved useful. Abiteboul also pointed to the GMR-001’s reliability, saying Genesis had completed two consecutive races without a technical glitch. He identified that reliability as essential for a manufacturer programme in endurance racing. The team will continue its campaign at Barcelona, where the GMR-001s are due to add further track mileage. The FIA WEC interview framed the Spanish event as an opportunity for Genesis to build on its progress while addressing the operational errors exposed at Fuji. The 6 Hours of Barcelona takes place on 16–18 October 2026, with Genesis seeking a cleaner execution after its penalty-hit outing at Fuji.