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- Trajectory Instead of Detours: Laurents Hörr on the Fastest Path to Hypercar
Trajectory Instead of Detours: Laurents Hörr on the Fastest Path to Hypercar
Some careers take wrong turns, lose their way, never arrive. Others just need a bit more time to find the perfect line. Laurents Hörr, 28, from Gerlingen, belongs to the second category—and 2026 could be his year.
From Kart Kid to Steady Hand in the Cockpit Two-time LMP3 champion in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, ELMS LMP3 title in 2021—Hörr was never the loudest, but always the most reliable behind the wheel. In 2023, the jump to LMP2 with IDEC Sport, two podiums, solid. Then two tough years at DKR Engineering: a podium at Le Mans in 2024, 2025 mostly bad luck and small parts. Not the kind of résumé that attracts factory contracts on its own.
The Call That Changed Everything
November 2025, a race weekend, a conversation with IDEC boss Nico Minassian—and right in the middle, Minassian’s phone rings. Genesis. A few weeks later, Laurents is sitting down with team principal Cyril Abiteboul, and then the deal is done: a spot in the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program. Sometimes you just have to work hard for a long time to suddenly get lucky.
Mentor at Full Throttle
In 2026, Hörr shares the ORECA LMP2 with W Series champion Jamie Chadwick and young talent Valerio Rinicella, 19. And this is where his real trump card shows: He’s not just fast, he brings the trio together—gives Chadwick fine-tuning in the prototype, takes Rinicella under his wing when it comes to traffic and tactics. Sharing knowledge instead of hoarding it has been a constant throughout his career. At the season opener in Le Castellet, the trio delivered right away: Hörr fought his way up to second place in the closing stages before contact cost them the podium. Fourth place in the end—second consecutive top-four finish, the trend is right.
One thing is clear: There’s no Hypercar guarantee. But the door is wide open. Finally, a plan toward the top class.
Nordschleife, Chapter Closed
On the side, Hörr had another big item on his 2026 schedule: After earning his permit the previous year, he competed in the 24 Hours Nürburgring—for Reiter Engineering in the KTM X-Bow GTX, number 66, alongside Miklas Born, Arne Hoffmeister, and Marcel Marchewicz. Strong qualifying, class-best time in warm-up, at times fighting for P2 in the SPX class—until an engine failure in the night put a damper on the team’s plans. Bitter, but exactly the kind of tuition fee that pays off next time around.
A prototype pilot with a mentor gene, simultaneously a GT fighter on the Nordschleife—hardly anyone in the field is set up this broadly. It’s precisely this mix of speed, team spirit, and willingness to learn that could ultimately take Laurents exactly where he wants to go: into Hypercar. We’re keeping our fingers crossed!
Jürgen Preuss, infact.digital
Copyright: Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory
