Hyundai edging closer to Hypercar/GTP program

While there has been no official expression of interest by Hyundai in a Hypercar and/or GTP sports car program, it appears that such an announcement is imminent on the part of the Korean-based manufacturer. Sources have suggested to RACER that an alliance with ORECA on an LMDh car for the FIA World Endurance Championship has been made and that key staff are already in the process of relocating to the Paul Ricard area in the south of France, with an IMSA program to follow shortly afterwards.

Hyundai, which currently fields a World Rally Championship program, is is expected to join the FIA WEC in 2026 with an in-house team, although significant current industry expertise is understood to be being gathered around the effort.

In preparation for the effort, the automaker is expected to form a team to compete in LMP2 in the 2025 European Le Mans Series. This would allow key personnel to gain experience with the ACO rulebook, although it would be unlikely to feature Hyundai branding. Several partnership options believed to be on the table including current ELMS teams and at least one with expertise in an entirely different area of motorsport.

As for the IMSA GTP effort -- whether competing as Hyundai or its Genesis halo brand -- there are a number of options on the table for a service provider, with Chip Ganassi Racing believed to be a front-runner.