---
title: "Genesis GMR-001 added to Le Mans Ultimate for free"
publishDate: 2026-03-31T10:15:44.333Z
lastUpdated: 2026-03-31T10:25:00.440Z
source_url:
html: https://tarmactimes.com/en/simracing/articles/genesis-gmr-001-added-to-le-mans-ultimate-for-free/bqsdjw
md: https://tarmactimes.com/en/simracing/articles/genesis-gmr-001-added-to-le-mans-ultimate-for-free/bqsdjw/llms.txt
---
Featured image: 
Le Mans Ultimate's v1.3 update dropped today with a surprise. The changelog had three blurred placeholders nobody could read until today. They turned out to be the Genesis GMR-001, the first 2026-spec Hypercar in the game, added for free.
You can drive it before the real car has raced. The WEC season opener was postponed from Qatar to Imola on 19 April, so LMU players get first the first taste.
Only the #17 car is available right now, driven by Pipo Derani, Mathys Jaubert and André Lotterer. The #19 will follow in a future patch. S397 has a pattern here. The BMW M Hybrid V8 and the Aston Martin Valkyrie were both added free when they joined the real WEC grid.
The real-world GMR-001 will carry Le Mans Ultimate branding at every WEC round this season.
## Genesis and the GMR-001
Genesis is Hyundai's luxury brand. Not a name most people associate with racing, but they are entering the WEC Hypercar class this season with two cars, making them the first Korean manufacturer to compete at this level.
The GMR-001 runs a 3.2-litre twin-turbo V8 that shares about 60% of its parts with Hyundai's WRC rally engine. Two four-cylinders, essentially doubled into a V8. It sits on an Oreca LMDh chassis, the same platform as the Alpine A424.
The team behind it is serious. Cyril Abiteboul, formerly of Renault F1, is team principal. The driver lineup includes three Le Mans wins from Lotterer, four Sebring victories from Derani, and last year's IMSA GTP champion Mathieu Jaminet. If you want the full backstory, we already covered [Genesis Magma Racing's WEC entry](https://tarmactimes.com/en/wec/articles/genesis-magma-racing-koreas-first-hypercar-arrives-at-le-mans/uc2x5n) earlier.
## How it drives in LMU
According to OverTake, who had early access, the car feels smooth and stable. At 670 hp and 1,030 kg it sits in line with the rest of the Hypercar class. The rear will snap if you push too hard, but that is standard for these cars in LMU.
How it compares on pace is something the community will figure out over the next few days. [Jardier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6cH86JuyNk) and [Basic Ollie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M18FOFudick) both have early footage of the car on track.
## More 2026 content still to come
The Genesis is the only new car on the 2026 grid, but Toyota has reworked its Hypercar into the TR010, Cadillac has an Evo update, and the Ferrari 296 and Ford Mustang LMGT3s both run Evo specs this season. None are in LMU yet. Given the Genesis arrived without warning, more could follow before the real Le Mans in June.