But your Humble, Hapless No Fenders Scribe Tomaso
sure is tired!
When does too much information apply to trying
to continuously keep up with Der Wurld de Motorsporten, Ja-Ja?
Although I found these two recent Sports Car items
of interest popping up on thoust radar screen. As the Sports Car ecosystem tends
to overflow Open Wheel Racing…
Perhaps you’ve read about Hyundai’s launching
of its Genesis Magma Racing team? With the announcement taking place in Dubai a
fortnight ago. As renderings and a scale model of the GMR-001 Le Mans Daytona
Hybrid (LMDH) prototype were revealed along with the team’s first two drivers.
With Andre Lotterer and Pipo derani on hand.
As the team will spend next year testing its
brand new racecar before running a two car factory effort in the FIA World
Endurance championship (WEC) in 2026. With a yet to be named “service provider”
running its IMSA GTP campaign in 2027.
Naturally current Hyundai Michelin Pilot
challenge entrant Brian Herta Autosport (BHA) has to be thought of. Whilst
perhaps Chip Ganassi Racing might also be in the fray for the IMSA GTP effort?
Hyundai Motorsports Boss Cyril Abiteboul, who
just led Hyundai to this year’s World Rally championship drivers title with Thierry
Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wyadaeghe . Will serve as Genesis Magma Racing’s
(GMR) team principal.
Cyril’s name is quite familiar to Mwah. Having
first become aware of the Frenchman when serving as the executive director of
Renault Sport F1 between 2010-12. Then becoming Caterham F1 team principal
between 2013-14. Before returning to Renault as its managing director between
2014-20.
Although Abiteboul’s best remembered to Mwah
for losing His bet with then Renault F1 driver DannyRic’, aka Daniel Ricciardo.
That He’d get a tattoo if Ricciardo claimed a podium finish, which occurred at
the 2020 Eiffel Grand Prix! As reportedly, Abiteboul sports a vintage Renault
logo with a stylized Honey Badger tattoo on His right calf…
Also of note, GMR will team with IDEC Sports for
2025 in the Europena Le Mans Series, (ELMS) racing an Oreca LMP2 prototype to
acclimatize themselves to Sports Car racing.
Interestingly the driver trio will consist of
ex-Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant. Paired with Jamie Chadwick, Indy NXT
winner and, British GT4 and triple W Series champion, and 19yr old Mathys
Jaubert. As the French teenager has been making waves in the Porsche Carrera GT
Cup France series, elevating Him to the Porsche Carrera GT Cup Asia series this
year…
Having run across this Marshall Pruett
podcast interview with Jamie Chadwick following scribbling’ this story…
https://marshallpruett.podbean.com/e/mp-1562-catching-up-with-jamie-chadwick/
The GMR-001 will be based upon a Oreca LMP2 chassis, with liberal Genesis styling cues, with its engine being a twin turbocharged V-8.
The team will be based out of the Paul Ricard
circuit at Le Castellet, nearby Oreca and IDEC. All of which sounds like Heady
days for the Hyundai backed programme.
The other tantalizing news, albeit not
surprising, since Lamborghini’s withdrawal from the “Weckity-Wec”, nee World
Endurance Championship has left Iron Lynx in a lurch. With the team opting to
switch manufacturer’s for its Iron Dames LM GT3 programme. Dropping its
Lamborghini Huracan in favour of a Porsche 911
Iron Dames will contest a multitude of series,
i.e.; IMSA’s Michelin Endurance Cup, FIA World Endurance Championship, European
Le Mans Series and the Asian Le Mans Series. All with the latest spec Porsche
911 GT3 racecar, contesting the GT3 category Internationally, and the GTD
category Stateside.
The driver quartet will be made up of regular’s
Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Sarah Bovy. With newcomer Celia Martin.
Part of the multi-year Porsche effort sees
Gatting being promoted to Porsche factory driver status. While “I Know Nothing”
Herr Schultz! About Celia Martin…
Having just learned that the 33yr old French le
Femme (Martin) is currently a Bronze rated driver who’ll make up part of the
Iron Dames core FIA “Weckity Wec” squad. Having joined Iron Dames in European
competition last year.
Gatting, Frey and Bovy will be the core drivers
of the Proton Competition IMSA GTD entry, with perhaps Doriane Pin joining them
again at Daytona?
As Iron Dames became the first All Female squad to win in WEC, claiming the final GTE Am race at Bahrain in 2023.
