Aston Martin has confirmed the racing plans for its latest masterpiece, the Valkyrie hypercar, marking a significant milestone in the British brand’s illustrious history. This road-derived race car is set to compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2025, making it the only hypercar to contest both prestigious series. The Valkyrie, developed in collaboration with The Heart of Racing (THOR) and Aston Martin Performance Technologies, is poised to bring the high-end performance car brand back to the pinnacle of endurance motorsport, which includes the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Valkyrie is powered by a state-of-the-art, lean-burning 6.5-litre V12 engine, optimized for the rigorous demands of endurance racing. This engine, developed by Cosworth, is a modified version of the one found in the road-legal Valkyrie, capable of revving to 11,000rpm and producing over 1000bhp in its standard form. For racing, the engine has been adapted to meet the performance window of the Hypercar class, with a focus on fuel efficiency and durability.
Aston Martin’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a significant moment for the brand, which last claimed overall victory in 1959. The Valkyrie will make its world competition debut at the opening round of the 2025 WEC in Qatar on February 28. The works Aston Martin THOR Team will enter two Valkyries in the WEC, with an all-British driver line-up for Le Mans. Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble, Marco Sørensen, and Alex Riberas will lead the charge, with Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis joining the team for the iconic 24-hour race.
The Valkyrie is not just a hypercar; it represents a revolution in automotive engineering. With its carbon fiber chassis, advanced aerodynamics, and bespoke suspension system, the Valkyrie is designed to meet the specific parameters of endurance racing. The car features quick-change front and rear bodywork, a high-speed pneumatic jack system, and a driver cockpit optimized for safety and visibility. The racing suspension configuration includes double wishbones front and rear, with pushrod actuated torsion bar springs and adjustable dampers.
The Heart of Racing has embarked on an extensive evaluation program for the Valkyrie, covering over 15,000km of testing across various tracks worldwide. This rigorous testing regime ensures that the Valkyrie is ready to compete at the highest level of endurance racing. The team has tested the car at Donington Park, Silverstone, Vallelunga, Jerez, Bahrain, Qatar, Road Atlanta, Sebring, and Daytona, ensuring a comprehensive development program.
The Valkyrie will also compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, starting with the Sebring 12 Hours in March. The single Valkyrie entry in IMSA will be driven by Gunn and De Angelis, both of whom have a proven track record in GT racing. The car will run in a special version of the distinctive THOR blue livery, managed from the team’s US base in Phoenix, Arizona.
Aston Martin’s return to endurance racing with the Valkyrie is a testament to the brand’s enduring sporting ethos and commitment to innovation. The Valkyrie embodies the pinnacle of performance, design, and engineering, making it a formidable contender in the world of endurance motorsport. As the only hypercar derived from a road-legal vehicle, the Valkyrie is set to make a significant impact on the global stage, competing against seasoned rivals in a fair and competitive environment.
“This is a proud moment for Aston Martin,” and Adrian Hallmark, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda. “To be returning to the fight for overall honors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans exists at the very core of our values and marks a key milestone in our motor racing heritage. As the only hypercar born from the road to challenge at the top of sports car racing in both the WEC and IMSA, the Valkyrie is an embodiment of our enduring sporting ethos, one that has defined the brand for more than a century.”
With a dual race program in both the WEC and IMSA, Aston Martin is poised to make a triumphant return to the top of endurance racing. The Valkyrie hypercar, with its blend of F1 technology and road car mastery, is ready to take on the world’s greatest sportscar series and bid for overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Source: Aston Martin
