Unlike most motorsports, which typically last one to two hours and reward the fastest finish, WEC races emphasize durability, with events commonly run over six hours and sometimes eight or 24 hours.
Over races that can last up to 24 hours, cars must withstand heavy loads from high-revving engines, brakes that heat up under repeated stopping, and thermal management demands on hybrid motors and batteries.
Each car is shared by three drivers, with six drivers rotating across the team, as they manage changing weather, tire wear and other variables while battling for position.
Genesis Magma Racing entered its first event with a mix of veterans and newcomers: Andre Lotterer, Pipo Derani, Daniel Juncadella, Mathys Jaubert, Mathieu Jaminet and Paul-Loup Chatin.
Midrace, Lotterer moved up to 11th before pitting. Jaubert then took over and made a clean pass on an Aston Martin. After Derani got in as the third driver, the team briefly climbed as high as ninth.
Ferrari driver Nicklas Nielsen, who was chasing Jaubert, expressed surprise over team radio, saying, “I don’t understand why that car is faster than us in the corners.”
After six hours, the team’s two hypercars averaged 177.97 kph and 176.23 kph around the 4.909-kilometer Imola circuit, finishing 15th and 17th.
Cyril Abiteboul, head of Hyundai Motorsport and team principal of Genesis Magma Racing, said the new entrant focused less on the absolute result and more on reliability and execution.
“The most important thing we confirmed this weekend is the solid foundation and potential of our team,” he said.
Genesis Magma Racing is scheduled to race next month at the season’s second round, the Spa-Francorchamps 6 Hours in Belgium.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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