Genesis Secures First WEC Pole in Barcelona

Mathys Jaubert secured the first pole position for Genesis Magma Racing at the 6 Hours of Barcelona, setting a best lap of 1:30.166 in the #17 GMR‑001. The Frenchman edged the championship leader Ryo Hirakawa in the Toyota TR010 Hybrid by 0.170 seconds, putting Genesis at the front of the Hypercar field. Third place went to teammate Mathieu Jaminet, while Alpine’s Charles Milesi finished fourth and Cadillac’s Will Stevens fifth. The session also saw Ferrari’s Antonio Fuoco drop to eighth after a lap was deleted for track limits.

Genesis’s Historic Pole

Genesis, the Korean‑based brand’s first foray into the FIA WEC, had already earned points at Imola, a top‑ten finish at Spa and a finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The new team’s achievement in Barcelona marks it as the 11th manufacturer to secure an overall pole, and Jaubert, only 21, becomes the youngest driver ever to do so in the championship. Team principal Cyril Abiteboul praised the result as validation of the driver‑development and operational strategy that underpins the program.

Abiteboul noted that the team has still faced operational errors in the first six races and that the upcoming race could be affected by rain, with many Hypercar teams yet to test the new Michelin wet tyre compound. Jaubert, who had a messy but fast Hyperpole lap, said he is already thinking about tomorrow’s race and that the team must not become complacent. Teammate Andre Lotterer added that the pole shows Genesis “means business” and that the team is now a true challenger in the field.

While Toyota and other manufacturers such as Aston Martin, BMW and Peugeot failed to reach the final shootout, Genesis will now aim to translate its qualifying success into a strong result in the six‑hour race. The 6 Hours of Barcelona will test the team’s consistency and tyre strategy against a competitive Hypercar lineup. The event remains a benchmark for Genesis, signalling that it may soon be a regular threat for victories and titles in the WEC.