Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer has described becoming a member of Genesis for its World Endurance Championship entry in 2026 as “a golden alternative”.
The reigning WEC Hypercar champion, who’s shifting to the South Korean producer after eight seasons with Porsche, advised Motorsport.com that the transfer would enable him to construct one thing that can stretch past the top of his driving profession.
“This chance is like gold at this stage of my profession,” stated Lotterer, 43, who will lead growth of an LMDh to be referred to as the Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar together with Pipo Derani this 12 months earlier than segueing right into a WEC race seat for 2026.
“To be in proper in the beginning of one thing is a privilege: it’s the probability to make use of all my expertise and know-how to construct one thing for the long run.
“The mission is to create an awesome workforce that can proceed past my racing: I wish to see the fruits of that after I cease driving, understanding I’ve been an enormous contributor.”
Lotterer pointed to the variations between his stints at Audi – which yielded his three Le Mans wins in 2011, ’12 and ’14 in addition to the WEC LMP1 crown in 2012 – and Porsche.
“I used to be at all times racing for established groups, whether or not it was Audi or Porsche,” he defined. “If I look again at my profession, that is completely different, however that’s what makes it very motivating and, I hope, fulfilling.”
Genesis Magma Racing unveil
Lotterer believes he nonetheless has one other Le Mans victory in him as he enters the ultimate section of his profession.
“If I didn’t suppose I might do this, I wouldn’t have gone for this problem,” he stated. “That’s the best state of affairs, however everyone knows it gained’t be simple.
“However I believe the LMDh platform means that you can be there faster than with LMP1; have a look at Porsche, they determined [to do it] in 2011 and it took an amazing quantity of labor and useful resource earlier than they entered in 2014.”
Lotterer confirmed that he had been in talks to increase this stint with Porsche, after he was not retained for its WEC Hypercar squad on the conclusion of his contract.
“We had been on good phrases, I might have stayed,” he stated.
“I used to be pondering, as a Porsche fan, we might develop previous collectively, however once we talked collectively about what they may supply it didn’t stimulate me, not just like the Genesis challenge.”
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Gary Watkins
WEC
Andre Lotterer
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