Category Archives: Motorsport

Motorsport

Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001: The Hypercar Awakens

Bare carbon, fat wheel arches, and an aura that says “I eat prototypes for breakfast”. That’s the GMR-001 — the first hypercar from Genesis Magma Racing, and it’s just rolled into the world after a successful shakedown. Built with the help of chassis wizards ORECA, this stealth bomber of endurance racing is the first of three development cars that will lay the groundwork for a 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship debut.

At the moment, it’s as naked as Adam in Eden — no paint, no frills, just raw carbon and menace. And yet, under the surface, lies Genesis Magma’s so-called “Hyperspeed” philosophy: progress at breakneck pace without cutting corners. “We’re passing milestones every day,” admits team principal Cyril Abiteboul — yes, the same Abiteboul once wrangling Renault’s F1 squad. Now, he’s shepherding Genesis into the white-knuckle world of endurance hypercars.

Building the Beast

This isn’t just another manufacturer dipping its toes into motorsport to sell a few extra SUVs. The GMR-001 has been engineered with intent. ORECA bolted together the first chassis, slotted in the engine, hybrid system and gearbox, lit the fuse, and handed it over to the Genesis engineers. From here on out, the car lives and breathes under Magma’s roof at Le Castellet — their soon-to-be-completed HQ where design, development, and race prep are converging like tributaries into a river of speed.

Drivers With Bite

Behind the wheel? None other than endurance titans André Lotterer and Pipo Derani. Both have already been sweating it out in the simulator, fine-tuning the virtual GMR-001 and setting baselines that’ll make the first track tests more than just glorified wheel-spinning. They’ve already had their first taste of the real car in a shakedown, checking that the electrics don’t explode and the mechanicals behave. Their verdict? Promising. Very promising.

The Road Ahead

Next stop: a punishing test program across Europe’s great circuits. Every lap will be dissected, data hoovered up, and solutions validated faster than you can say “Le Mans 24 Hours.” ORECA stays in the loop as long-term chassis partner, while Genesis engineers hammer away at fine-tuning the beast into a reliable, homologated weapon.

FX Demaison, Magma’s technical director, knows the score: “Every bit of running we do with the GMR-001 in 2025 is extremely valuable.” Translation? They’ve got one year to turn raw carbon into silverware.

And make no mistake, this is Genesis putting its flag firmly in enemy territory. They’re not here to make up the numbers. They’re here to punch Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, and Peugeot square in the nose.

So remember the name: Genesis Magma Racing, GMR-001. Today it’s bare carbon and testing gear. In 2026? It might just be the car staring down the Mulsanne Straight with victory in its sights.

Source: Genesis

Motorsport

Nissan Formula E Team Targets Double Title in London Season Finale

With just two rounds remaining in the high-stakes 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Nissan Formula E Team heads to the Excel London Circuit with a clear objective: seal the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles to cap off an already historic season.

After Oliver Rowland clinched the Drivers’ Championship in emphatic style in Berlin, the Japanese outfit now sits second in both remaining standings. But the team’s ambitions haven’t cooled — if anything, they’ve intensified.

Gunning for Glory on Familiar Ground

The Excel London Circuit, a unique 2.09-kilometer semi-indoor layout winding through the Royal Victoria Docks and the exhibition center, has long been a fan favorite and a strategic wildcard on the calendar. It also brings fond memories for Nissan, who claimed victory here last season with Rowland charging from ninth on the grid to the top step of the podium — a defining moment in his career and for the team.

This weekend, Nissan will return with momentum, experience, and a striking new look. In celebration of the all-new, UK-built Nissan LEAF, the team will debut a special teal blue edition of its cherry blossom livery. The third-generation LEAF represents over a decade of EV innovation, with nearly 700,000 units sold since its groundbreaking 2010 debut. Nissan’s Formula E campaign continues to serve as a live testbed for electric performance, seamlessly blending racing and road-car development.

All Eyes on Rowland and Nato

With his championship trophy secured, Rowland heads into London with nothing to lose and everything to fight for on behalf of the team. “We’ve been racing here for years now, and it’s always a physical challenge,” Rowland said. “Qualifying and strategy will be crucial, especially with how difficult overtaking is. But I’m feeling relaxed and ready to give it everything.”

Rowland’s confidence is well placed — the London track’s tight corners and indoor-outdoor transitions demand pinpoint precision and energy efficiency. A resurfaced section promises more grip, but the complexity remains, especially if rain arrives to further complicate setup and strategy.

On the other side of the garage, Norman Nato returns to the cockpit of the #17 Nissan e-4ORCE 05 after missing the previous round. Known for his consistency at the Excel layout — with points in three of his last four starts — the Frenchman is eager to end the season on a high. “It’s a classic Formula E track — tight, technical, and unpredictable,” Nato said. “We know what’s at stake. The goal is clear.”

Strategy, Grit, and All-Wheel Drive

In a championship where tenths can decide titles, Nissan’s reserve driver Sérgio Sette Câmara underlined the uniqueness of the London layout. “Driving indoors is such a cool experience, but it takes a few laps to get used to it,” he said. “With All-Wheel Drive and a more powerful Attack Mode this year, strategy will be more important than ever.”

The semi-indoor layout presents a number of overtaking opportunities — notably into Turn 1 and the outdoor Turn 10-11 chicane — but qualifying performance will likely dictate race outcomes more than on any other circuit. Nissan’s drivers and engineers have prepared accordingly.

A Championship on the Line

Team Principal Tommaso Volpe remains cautiously optimistic. “We’re proud to have already secured the drivers’ title, but we’re pushing just as hard for the other two. With Oliver and Norman’s form on this track, and the momentum we’ve built, we believe it’s possible,” he said. “We’ll be aggressive, smart, and united — and we’re ready to leave it all out there.”

As the curtain prepares to fall on Formula E Season 11, Nissan Formula E Team stands on the verge of a landmark achievement. With speed, strategy, and a dash of teal blue flair, they’re ready to chase down the final trophies of a remarkable campaign.

Source: Nissan

Motorsport, News

Paris-Rouen 1894: The Birth of Motorsport

Exactly 131 years ago today, the world witnessed a defining moment in automotive history. On July 22, 1894, the dusty roads between Paris and Rouen bore the rumble and hiss of the first organized automobile competition, a groundbreaking event that set the wheels of motorsport—and modern mobility—in motion.

Organized by the forward-thinking Parisian newspaper Le Petit Journal, the event wasn’t about speed alone. Officially dubbed the Concours du ‘Petit Journal’ Les Voitures sans Chevaux—or the Horseless Vehicle Competition—the race was a visionary initiative, aimed at proving that these newfangled machines were more than noisy novelties. They were practical, safe, and—crucially—viable for the average person.

At the heart of the competition was Pierre Giffard, Le Petit Journal’s editor, who sought to not only promote his publication but also bolster France’s standing in the budding automobile industry. Giffard’s guidelines were clear: the ideal vehicle should be safe, easy to drive, and economical. Speed? That was secondary.

A Route Paved in Innovation

Spanning 126 kilometers from Paris to Rouen, the event was preceded by three days of rigorous qualifying trials from July 19 to 21. Out of 102 registered entrants, only 21 vehicles made the cut, completing a 50-kilometer test loop within the prescribed three-hour window. The field was diverse—featuring both steam and gasoline-powered machines, a snapshot of a technological crossroads.

On race day, July 22, the vehicles set off at 15-second intervals beginning at 8 a.m., rumbling through the idyllic French countryside. Crowds lined the route, captivated by these chugging contraptions that promised a new era of transportation.

The first to reach Rouen was Jules-Albert de Dion, driving a steam-powered De Dion-Bouton. Clocking an average speed of 22 km/h, he crossed the finish line in under seven hours. But in a twist emblematic of the event’s ethos, De Dion was disqualified from the top prize—his vehicle required a stoker, violating the rules that barred entries needing extra personnel for operation.

Peugeot’s Early Triumph

Instead, the 5,000 gold franc grand prize was awarded to Albert Lemaître, behind the wheel of a 3-horsepower Peugeot powered by a gasoline engine. Second place also went to a Peugeot, driven by Georges Lemaitre, while Auguste Doriot secured third in another Peugeot Type 5. The decision stirred some debate but underscored the competition’s emphasis on user-friendliness and independence over raw pace.

The prize pool—10,000 francs in total—was spread among the top five finishers. It was a generous sum for the time, but the real reward was the spark it ignited in public imagination and industrial ambition.

A Catalyst for a Century of Speed

The 1894 Paris-Rouen wasn’t just a race—it was a proof of concept. It demonstrated that automobiles could function outside of controlled environments, navigating varied terrain and conditions. Importantly, it helped tilt the balance in favor of internal combustion engines, which would soon eclipse steam as the dominant propulsion technology.

Within a year, the more competitive Paris–Bordeaux–Paris race would raise the stakes further, and by the early 20th century, events like the Grand Prix would establish racing as a global phenomenon. But it all began here—with a vision, a newspaper, and a group of brave pioneers piloting boxes of steam and gasoline toward an uncertain but exhilarating future.