Cyril Abiteboul, the head of Genesis’ Magma Racing, indicated that the brand isn’t aiming to disrupt the existing order after revealing an extreme GT3 concept earlier in the year.
The Magma GT3 Concept was unveiled during the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the Hyundai Group considered whether to pursue a project for the popular GT3 category.
However, the concept was shown before any corresponding road car existed, prompting concerns that it might not align with the GT3 principle, which traditionally features race versions derived from road-going models that are already available.
This Magma GT3 Concept, together with the anticipated Toyota GR GT3 and Mercedes‑AMG’s Concept AMG GT Track Sport, prompted GT3 founder Stephane Ratel to voice serious questions about the category’s future direction.
SRO Motorsports Group chief Ratel warned in June that GT3 could be pushed toward a breaking point if manufacturers push the limits of the regulations and then homologate a road‑going variant, describing that approach as closer to GT1 than GT3.
Abiteboul noted that Ratel’s remarks “make sense,” though he isn’t worried about Genesis’s path should the company decide to move forward with a GT3 project.
“He knows what he’s talking about, so his input matters and could serve as inspiration for us as well,” Abiteboul added regarding Ratel’s comments.
“We don’t want to come across as arrogant in our communications.
“When entering a segment like [GT3], we aim to perform well with a sound strategy and proper execution, but we also must approach it with a degree of humility.
“If we venture into such a segment, it won’t be a one-off effort; it would mark the beginning of a long journey with potential for multiple evolutions and different versions of the car.”
“Before we start talking about building a race car for the road, let’s first ensure the fundamentals are right and that we aren’t here to disrupt a system.”
“We are very mindful of cost control, customer support, and reliability, so our focus will be on getting the basics right for both the production car and the race car.”
Abiteboul stressed that no final decision has been made about whether to develop a GT3 challenger.
“We’re taking a bit of time because we want to guarantee that the strategy and execution will be best-in-class,” he said.
Yet Abiteboul did acknowledge that the GT3 arena holds significant appeal for the Hyundai Group.
“What we want is to craft an inspiring narrative for customers of both the road car and the race car,” he explained. “We believe the regulations provide that opportunity right now.
“It appears to me that there’s strong management of performance as well, which is why we’re so attracted to this platform.”
Abiteboul also avoided pinning down a firm timeline for when a GT3 car might reach the track if approved, simply remarking that developing a new car would take years.
Details about the Magma GT3 Concept were limited at Le Mans, with Genesis describing it only as adopting a “performance-first” approach to its design.
