Aston Martin Valkyrie: Revolutionising Endurance Racing with its Hypercar Debut
Aston Martin unveils an exhilarating new chapter in its esteemed racing heritage by introducing the Valkyrie hypercar. Crafted to conquer the highest echelons of global endurance racing and aim for outright victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Valkyrie is unparalleled in its category as a road-derived competitor. The car marks a strategic move for the British luxury performance brand, leveraging its racing pedigree to ascend to unprecedented heights.
The Valkyrie, Aston Martin's first venture into the FIA’s Hypercar class, will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) in the United States. Its global racing debut is slated for the opening round of the 2025 WEC season at Qatar 1812 km on 28 February, where the Aston Martin THOR Team will field two Valkyries.
Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, stated, "This is a monumental occasion for Aston Martin as we renew our quest for top honours at Le Mans, embodying our core values and celebrating a significant chapter in our racing history. The Valkyrie stands out as the sole hypercar that transitions from road to the pinnacle of sports car racing, reflecting our deep-rooted sporting spirit that has shaped our brand for over a century."
British drivers Harry Tincknell, a recent Le Mans class victor for Aston Martin, and rising star Tom Gamble will steer the #007 Valkyrie throughout the WEC season. Marco Sørensen, a three-time FIA GT World Champion from Denmark, and Alex Riberas of Spain, a WEC LMGT3 class race winner, will helm the #009 car.
In IMSA, Ross Gunn, a top contender in the 2024 IMSA GTD Pro championship, and Roman De Angelis, the 2022 GTD class champion, will drive the #23 Aston Martin entry in the GTP class for the THOR Team. They will also join the WEC drivers to form a three-driver team at Le Mans, with Gunn joining the all-British crew in the #007 Valkyrie.
Ian James, the team principal, described leading Aston Martin’s factory Valkyrie racing campaign as a career highlight, noting, "Managing a car at the premier level that’s directly descended from one of the world’s most stunning road cars is a profound honour."
The Valkyrie showcases a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis and a powerful version of the Cosworth-built 6.5-litre V12 engine, adapted to meet the strenuous demands of top-tier endurance racing. Adam Carter, Head of Aston Martin Endurance Motorsport, highlighted, "The Valkyrie isn’t just a hypercar; it’s a revolution in automotive engineering, blending F1® technology with road car prowess for racing dominance."
Aston Martin’s Valkyrie represents the ultimate synergy of road car design and racing technology, a testament to its storied heritage and commitment to innovation in motorsport.
