Aston Martin Valkyrie Shines at 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship Debut
The Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar made a memorable global debut in the first race of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, the Qatar 1812km at Lusail International Circuit. This marked an impressive start to its journey towards the pinnacle of sportscar racing.
Driven by Marco Sørensen from Denmark, Spanish racer Alex Riberas, and Canadian champion Roman De Angelis, the Aston Martin THOR Team's #009 Valkyrie completed 295 laps, securing a 17th place.
The event posed a significant challenge, especially being a grueling 10-hour race, and although the team did not score points, the performance was promising. The #009 and its sister car, the #007, demonstrated strong race pace, suggesting a bright future in the prestigious endurance racing series.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin's Head of Endurance, noted, "This weekend was all about learning. We faced some initial teething issues typical of a new racing programme. Nonetheless, the race pace was encouraging, offering many insights into the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Sebring."
The two Valkyries quickly adapted to the pace of the Hypercar class, showing competitive speed. Despite the #009 needing a pit stop for a missing door and the #007, driven by Britons Tom Gamble, Ross Gunn, and Harry Tincknell, retiring due to a transmission issue, their performance when on track was competitive.
Ian James, Principal of the Aston Martin THOR Team, commented, "It was a challenging first race, but the team's effort and the car's capabilities were clear. We're learning rapidly, and much potential is yet to be realised."
The Valkyrie, the first 'Le Mans Hypercar' produced by Aston Martin and derived from a road-legal hypercar, promises an exciting season. It will compete in the FIA WEC and the North American IMSA series, demonstrating its capabilities under the guidance of Aston Martin Performance Technologies and The Heart of Racing.
With a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis and a 6.5-litre V12 engine, the Valkyrie adheres to hypercar regulations while promising over 1000bhp in its production version. The team remains optimistic about their progress and the lessons learned, eager for the challenges ahead in the IMSA series at Sebring.
Harry Tincknell remarked on the extensive learning achieved, while Tom Gamble and Ross Gunn highlighted the positive developments and team dynamics over the race weekend. Marco Sørensen and Alex Riberas also expressed confidence in the car's potential, reinforcing the team's commitment to improvement and success in future races.
The Aston Martin Racing partner teams, The Heart of Racing and Racing Spirit of Léman, also showcased strong performances. These demonstrated the Vantage GT3's agility and potential in enduring race conditions, setting the stage for an exhilarating season ahead.
