Genesis Boosts WEC Team by Hiring Gabriele Tarquini to Management

Genesis Magma Racing has appointed touring car veteran Gabriele Tarquini as sporting director for their World Endurance Championship Hypercar project, set to debut in 2026. Tarquini, now 63, brings decades of driving experience, highlighted by the 1994 British Touring Car title with Alfa Romeo and the 2009 World Touring Car Championship crown for SEAT.

He retired from racing in 2021 after a four-year run in the TCR World Touring Car Cup and quickly shifted to team management with BRC Racing Team. The announcement came at Paul Ricard just before the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, as Genesis outlined the key members building its WEC campaign.

Justin Taylor joined as chief engineer after notable stints at Chip Ganassi Racing and with Ferrari’s Le Mans-winning 499P Hypercar program. Anouck Abadie, formerly of Kessel Racing in Swiss GT competition and a French Formula Academy series alum, takes on team manager duties.

Warren Scheckter, the nephew of 1979 Formula 1 world champion Jody Scheckter, steps in as commercial, marketing, and communications manager. Former Renault driver academy lead Mia Sharizman joins as driver programme advisor.

Genesis Magma Racing’s new headquarters is being set up at Paul Ricard, within an industrial park run by IDEC Group. IDEC Sport and Hyundai Motorsport are supporting the team’s WEC preparations, currently running a LMP2 ORECA-Gibson 07 entry to help ready both personnel and systems for Hypercar racing next year.

The technical direction is led by François-Xavier Demaison, an established figure with experience across endurance and touring car disciplines. The GMR-001 Hypercar, built on an ORECA chassis foundation, remains on track for its initial run this August, following the launch timeline announced last year.

So far, two drivers have signed for the Genesis Hypercar effort: Andre Lotterer, who is competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours with the IDEC Sport LMP2 team, and Pipo Derani. Their experience is expected to give the Genesis program a strong base ahead of their WEC debut.

Tarquini, the only member of the current management group with Le Mans racing experience—a single start in 1985—acknowledged the challenge ahead but was eager to contribute his knowledge as a driver, coach, and manager. The blend of endurance, sprint, and commercial expertise in the team’s leadership is aimed at establishing Genesis as a competitive entrant in the fast-growing Hypercar class.

Recruitment for additional technical and racing staff is ongoing as Genesis Magma Racing shapes its operation for the 2026 season. Team principal Cyril Abiteboul praised the new hires, saying their depth in global motorsport would be strengthened with future additions.

The team continues preparations at Le Mans and Paul Ricard, focusing on both car development and personnel training ahead of official testing. With this experienced lineup in place, Genesis is positioning itself for a competitive debut in the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar category.

The next milestone comes in August, when the GMR-001 Hypercar is set to hit the track for the first time as development accelerates towards the 2026 season.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.