Genesis Magma Racing claims pole 1-2 but rain derails debut win bid

Genesis Magma Racing claimed its first-ever pole position on the world endurance racing stage, raising hopes of a maiden victory, but both cars failed to score points in the race. Driving errors and a string of penalties on a wet track knocked the team out of contention, pushing its first win of the debut season further away.

According to the FIA World Endurance Championship, Genesis Magma Racing finished Sunday's 2026 WEC Barcelona 6 Hours at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain with car No. 19 in 11th place and car No. 17 in 16th. Neither car earned championship points, which are awarded to the top 10 finishers in the Hypercar class.

The result stood in sharp contrast to the team's qualifying performance. In Saturday's Hyperpole session, Mathis Joubert set a time of 1 minute 30.166 seconds in car No. 17, securing the team's first pole position since its founding. A pole position is awarded to the driver who sets the fastest qualifying time, earning the right to start at the front of the grid.

Joubert edged out Toyota's car No. 8, driven by Hirakawa Ryo, by 0.170 seconds. At 21, he also set the record as the youngest driver ever to claim an overall pole position in WEC history. Teammate Matthieu Jaminet, driving car No. 19, qualified third, giving Genesis both cars in the top three on the starting grid — a milestone reached at the team's seventh WEC round since joining the series this year.

In the race, however, the weather proved decisive. While practice and qualifying had taken place on a dry track, the race started on a rain-soaked circuit.

The opening moments looked promising for Genesis. Daniel Juncadella, starting from third on the grid in car No. 19, overtook teammate André Lotterer in car No. 17 at the first corner to move into the lead. With both Genesis cars running at the front, a first victory seemed within reach.

The situation changed sharply when car No. 19 slid off at Turn 5 and into the gravel. Juncadella surrendered the lead and dropped to the back of the Hypercar class. Toyota's Sébastien Buemi in car No. 8 moved to the front.

Car No. 17 also struggled to hold its position. Already hampered by the wet conditions, it received two drive-through penalties during the race for violating full-course yellow and safety car regulations. A drive-through penalty requires a driver to pass through the pit lane without stopping, costing valuable time and dropping the car down the order.

Ultimately, car No. 19 finished 11th — one place short of the 10th-place threshold for championship points. Car No. 17, which had started from pole, was limited to 16th.

Victory went to Toyota. Car No. 8, driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Hirakawa Ryo, crossed the finish line first, with car No. 7 following in second. The result gave Toyota its first 1-2 finish of the season and clinched the 2026 Hypercar manufacturers' championship title.

For Genesis, the weekend confirmed the car's single-lap pace against the world's top manufacturers, while exposing the need to improve its ability to manage changing weather and unexpected situations over a long race. Having outqualified the field, converting that speed into a podium finish or outright victory remains the team's key challenge going forward.

Meanwhile, Genesis Magma Racing has also begun preparations for next season. On Saturday during the Barcelona race weekend, the team announced that Juncadella, driver of car No. 19, will continue with the team in the 2027 season. The announcement coincided with Genesis's plans to expand into the Spanish market.

The 2026 WEC season concludes with the Monza 6 Hours in Italy, running Nov. 6-8. Genesis Magma Racing will head into the final round looking to end its debut season on a high note.