Jacky Ickx tests Genesis Hypercar, calls it 'another world'

Motorsport legend Jacky Ickx brought his racing heritage to Circuit Paul Ricard for a symbolic track test in Genesis's GMR-001 Hypercar, emerging with a rare sense of wonder.

Under the southern French sun, the 81-year-old – a six-time Le Mans winner and two-time F1 runner-up – stepped into a world defined by digital displays, telemetry, and a steering wheel with 18 buttons and four more behind it.

Why it matters:

Ickx's test underscores the gulf between motorsport's golden age and modern endurance racing, where cognitive load and precision have replaced raw instinct. For a man who raced in an era of non-assisted steering, confronting today's Hypercar highlights how far the sport has evolved – and what remains timeless.

The details:

• Cockpit shock: Ickx found the carbon-fiber cockpit claustrophobic, with switches everywhere. "Please, simplify my life," he joked to engineers.
• Left-foot braking: A muscle memory challenge. "I’m a right-foot braker. It’s not the same feeling at all. I had to rethink everything."
• Sprint mentality: "Endurance racing has become a permanent sprint. No room for improvisation. Everything has to be planned."
• Visual tribute: The car wore a blue-and-white livery mirroring Ickx’s iconic helmet, honoring his role as sporting advisor.

What's next:

Ickx completed three symbolic laps, leaving the garage team impressed. Reflecting on the experience, he emphasized teamwork over technology: "The principles of cohesion and sharing passion – nothing has changed." The test serves as a bridge between eras, proving that while cars transform, the soul of racing endures.