Genesis Magma Racing adds key staff

Genesis Magma Racing has announced a key set of hires for its GMR-001 Hypercar effort that launches in 2026. Anouck Abadie, Justin Taylor and Gabriele Tarquini will spearhead the project, filling the roles of team manager, chief engineer and sporting director, respectively.

The three new appointments bring experience from different areas of motorsport and will integrate into the existing team structure led by team principal Cyril Abiteboul and technical director François-Xavier Demaison.

“Anouck, Justin and Gabriele are fantastic additions to the Genesis Magma Racing team,” Abiteboul said. “They all have great experience in motorsport, which will be complemented by additional endurance racing expertise of the other team members we will recruit in the coming months.

"This mix, and the management structure we announce today, will be at the centre of the team through our testing with the GMR-001 Hypercar and our race team in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year.”

The new team members will begin their new roles immediately, with both Abadie and Taylor already integrated into the IDEC Sport team, competing at Le Mans with two LMP2 entries, to be prepared for the first tests with GMR-001.

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Frenchwoman Abadie, 32, has experience working within the FIA and with leading endurance teams in both team manager and sporting director roles, most recently with Kessel Racing.

“The FIA and ACO made a winning bet when they launched the Hypercar category, and seeing how many manufacturers joined since then says everything,” said Abadie. “This new project with Genesis Magma Racing gives us the opportunity to start from a whiteboard, and we can build a strong team of motivated people who share our vision. It will be challenging for sure, that’s why it’s even more exciting. I can’t wait to see our car in action on track.”

Taylor will arrive at Genesis Magma Racing having recently acted as race engineer in two leading teams in the Hypercar and LMDh categories, Cadillac and Ferrari, and has experience working with chassis builder ORECA and in IndyCar as well.

“Joining Genesis Magma Racing is very exciting for me,” said Taylor. “Coming onboard in the chief engineer role allows me a chance to develop our team and the GMR-001 Hypercar from the ground up, to be ready for the 2026 WEC season and beyond.”

The American brings crucial experience of not just WEC, but also IMSA competition (Chip Ganassi Racing) – critical as Genesis Magma Racing sets its sights on entering the North American-based championship in 2027.

Touring car legend Tarquini is already integrated into the Hyundai Motorsport universe, having won the inaugural WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup title in 2018 with Hyundai Motorsport before becoming team manager for the leading Hyundai Motorsport customer squad, helping guide the team to four titles in three years.

“When I stopped racing in 2021, the natural evolution was to work in motorsport, starting in the world I know – Touring Cars,” said the Italian. “I’ve had some very successful seasons, but joining Genesis Magma Racing is a new challenge for me. I have a lot to learn about WEC, but I will use all my experience as a driver, a coach, and a team manager to be prepared for next season.”

Also announced at the press conference were Mia Sharizman, who becomes the team’s driver program advisor, and Warren Scheckter, who takes up the role of commercial, marketing and communication manager. The new team members will fit into the structure, alongside the existing staff, including those coming from Hyundai Motorsport as part of Genesis Magma Racing’s Trajectory program.

Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Abiteboul reaffirmed that the GMR-001 program is running “on schedule” with Hyundai Motorsport’s engineers working through parallel dyno tests on the engine and drivetrain components. Following a successful test of the combined engine and rear transmission, the team began simulation testing last week, mimicking the strain of multiple laps around specific circuits.

As part of the expansion of Hyundai Motorsport, a new France-based subsidiary of the company has been established as part of the creation of the “race base” for Genesis Magma Racing. The facility will be near Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, close to ORECA's factory, where parts continue to arrive for the building of the first two GMR-001 chassis, destined for development testing.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motorsport will move into a new base in Offenbach and technical center in Fechenheim, near Frankfurt, which will become the central headquarters for the company’s World Rally Championship and customer racing operations. Combined, the French and German premises will service nearly 300 employees, including around 50 people recruited by Genesis Magma Racing before the end of 2026.

“The expansion of Hyundai Motorsport is essential to create a strong foundation for Genesis Magma Racing and the establishment of a new subsidiary in France is an essential step” said Abiteboul. “The team is being created from very strong parts. A strong chassis from ORECA, an ideal race base location in Le Castellet, an international, experienced team of people from around motorsport and, of course, the best of the influences from Korean culture to drive us all forward at hyperspeed.”