Genesis has lured Mathieu Jaminet and Paul-Loup Chatin from rival manufacturers to join its upcoming Hypercar programme in the World Endurance Championship next year.
Jaminet makes the switch to Hyundai’s luxury marque after a long stint at Porsche, while fellow Frenchman Chatin joins the team after two years racing the Alpine A424 in the WEC.
With the announcement, Genesis has completed its driver line-up for its maiden season in the WEC’s top class in 2026. Sportscar veterans Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani were named at the launch of its LMDh project last year, with Mathys Jaubert and Daniel Juncadella joining the roster earlier this year. Jamie Chadwick was revealed as the reserve driver at the start of the week following her maiden test in the Genesis GMR-001.
“We have an amazing line-up for Genesis Magma Racing’s first year in the FIA World Endurance Championship,” said team principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“The combination of drivers that we have secured far exceeds any expectation we had when we began the project.
“It is a huge mark of the trust these race winners and champions have placed in our young team, Genesis and the broader Hyundai Motor Group. I am sure they will create huge motivation and a virtuous circle for the team that is coming together very nicely at our base in Signes.”
Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001
Photo by: Genesis
Reigning IMSA GTP champion Jaminet had long been linked to a Genesis drive after announcing his departure from Porsche at the end of last month, shortly after the German manufacturer revealed that it will be stepping down from the Hypercar class after 2025.
The 31-year-old had been affiliated with Porsche since 2016, initially joining as a junior driver before earning full-factory status. He has claimed titles in the ADAC GT Masters and IMSA’s GTD Pro class, and scored class wins in Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours. Most recently, he won the 2025 IMSA GTP title with Matt Campbell in a Porsche 963 LMDh.
Jaminet was also a part of Genesis’ private test at Aragon this month, where he turned his first laps in the GMR-001 LMDh.
“I’m very happy to be joining Genesis Magma Racing,” said Jaminet. “This is the start of a new chapter, a new history for me. This team offers me that opportunity to go racing in the WEC and hopefully in the future also the IMSA series.”
He added: “I wanted to have a fresh start with new people to try to step up but also bring my experience to a new team and work to build something incredible for the future. Obviously, the road will be long with a new team but I’m really excited and looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Like Jaminet, Chatin has been rumoured to join Genesis for some time, and his exit from Alpine was confirmed on Wednesday.
Although yet to test the team’s new car, Genesis said his experience driving the Oreca-based A424 will be crucial, with the Korean brand having also chosen an Oreca LMP2 chassis for the spine of its own LMDh prototype.
“I am truly honoured and proud to join the Genesis Magma Racing adventure in Hypercar. First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who made this opportunity possible,” said Chatin, who won the Fuji 6 Hours with Ferdinand Habsburg and Charles Milesi in September.
“After two enriching years with Alpine Endurance Team and the recent success in Fuji, I feel more ready than ever to take on this new challenge.
“Genesis is still a young brand, but its values and ambitions immediately resonated with me,” he added. “I’m well aware of the challenges that await us, but I have full confidence in our team’s talent and determination to quickly move forward and fight for top positions.”
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