Genesis Magma Racing has announced that Valerio Rinicella and Laurents Hörr have joined its Trajectory Programme and will take on this year’s European Le Mans Series with IDEC Sport.
The pairing will share the #18 ORECA 07 – Gibson LMP2 with Genesis Hypercar reserve driver Jamie Chadwick, who is a part of the initiative for a second season.
2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 drivers’ champion Rinicella is set to make his ELMS debut, with his successful Asian Le Mans Series campaign and an outing in last year’s Road to Le Mans event his only prototype race experience to date. In 2025, the 18-year-old was a race winner in Eurocup-3.
“Being part of the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Programme is an incredible feeling,” Rinicella said.
“I’m very happy to begin my journey with them — it’s a great opportunity to learn, grow and develop in the right environment. It will be a long and demanding season, and I’ll push at every moment to fight for the best possible results. Looking ahead, my goal is to continue progressing step by step, with the ambition of one day competing in the Genesis Magma Racing Hypercar programme.”
Hörr brings the majority of LMP2 experience to the line-up, having been a regular behind the wheel of an ORECA 07 for the past three years, including a season spent with IDEC Sport in the ELMS in 2023.
The 28-year-old German, who is a multi-time LMP3 champion, subsequently switched to DKR Engineering, and finished on the LMP2 Pro/Am podium at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“It’s great to be back with IDEC Sport, but to be part of the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Programme is amazing. It’s a massive step forward in my career,” Hörr said.
“I know Valerio a little bit already and I’ve obviously seen Jamie around in the paddock. It will be a really good combination between youth and experience with the three of us. The aim is to achieve the best possible results for Genesis Magma Racing and IDEC Sport and to keep learning with every race from the team. I think it will be a strong season in the European Le Mans Series and the goal is clear for all of us.”
The Trajectory Programme was launched last year, with Chadwick, Mathys Jaubert and Daniel Juncadella competing in the ELMS aboard an entry crewed by a mix of IDEC Sport and Genesis Magma Racing staff. The trio won three races in LMP2, and finished third in the championship, with Jaubert and Juncadella being promoted to its Hypercar race line-up for 2026.
This season, the Trajectory Programme is set to focus on driver development, with an expanded roster of Chadwick, Rinicella and Hörr, joined by Korean single-seater racers Michael Shin and Kyuho Lee.
IDEC Sport Team Principal Nicolas Minassian said: “I am very happy that we can continue to write history together and with confidence with Genesis Magma Racing. Supporting and participating in the development of young drivers is an integral part of our DNA. That’s what we’re doing with the #18 car, welcoming Jamie back alongside Valerio, who already shows great potential despite his young age, and Laurents, whom we know very well. 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year.”
Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director, added: “We saw what Jamie was capable of last year, and Valerio and Laurents have also shown great pace and potential in multiple categories, including at different levels and series in Prototype competition. Together with the experienced team at IDEC Sport, I am sure they have a strong season ahead of them where they can continue to make progress in their careers.”
The 2026 European Le Mans Series will begin at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain, on 10th to 12th April 2026.
Images courtesy of IDEC Sport
