Jamie Chadwick Confirmed as Genesis Magma Racing Reserve Driver for 2026 WEC
Sky F1 pundit and Williams ambassador Jamie Chadwick has been confirmed as a reserve driver for the Genesis Magma Racing team in the 2026 World Endurance Championship. This pivotal role involves extensive development work with the GMR-001 hypercar, marking a significant advancement in her career and bringing her closer to a top-tier racing seat in endurance motorsport.
Jamie Chadwick, the highly recognizable Sky F1 pundit and Williams team ambassador, has officially joined the Genesis Magma Racing team as a reserve driver for the 2026 World Endurance Championship. This move marks a significant step in her burgeoning motorsport career, placing her closer to the pinnacle of endurance racing.
Why it matters:
After a successful run in the W Series and IndyNXT, Chadwick's entry into WEC with a factory Hypercar team is a testament to her talent and a major boost for female representation in top-tier motorsport. Securing a development role with Genesis Magma Racing provides her with invaluable experience in cutting-edge machinery and a clear pathway towards a potential race seat in a premier global championship.
The Details:
- New Role Confirmed: Chadwick will serve as a reserve driver for Genesis Magma Racing, the luxury brand of Hyundai, which is set to enter the Hypercar class of the WEC in 2026 with its GMR-001 machine.
- Increased Responsibilities: Her role will involve significant development work, including extensive simulator time and driving the GMR-001 hypercar in testing sessions.
- Recent Racing Success: The 27-year-old recently competed in the European Le Mans Series with the Genesis-affiliated IDEC Sport team for 2025, where she secured three wins and finished third in the standings.
- First Test Complete: Chadwick completed her initial test with the GMR-001 at Magny-Cours, experiencing both wet and dry conditions alongside the confirmed race drivers, expressing her enthusiasm for the car's speed and advanced systems.
- Career Progression: Chadwick stated her pride in this progression, viewing the reserve hypercar role as "one step closer to my ultimate goal" and emphasizing the benefits of constant testing and engineering collaboration for her overall racing development.
- Team Outlook: Gabriele Tarquini, Sporting Director of Genesis Magma Racing, highlighted the value of Chadwick's feedback as a new driver and her importance to the team's future development and preparation for their inaugural WEC season.
What's next:
Chadwick's racing plans for 2026 are expected to be announced soon, but her current role positions her firmly within a factory Hypercar program. This move not only elevates her profile but also underscores Genesis's commitment to building a strong team, potentially paving the way for her to secure a full-time race seat in the highly competitive WEC Hypercar category.