Aston Martin Returns to Le Mans with Valkyrie Hypercar
Aston Martin is set to make a return to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race with a racing prototype version of their Hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
Oct 5, 2023
Thanks to the generous support of their endurance racing partner, Heart of Racing, Aston Martin will be fielding at least one Valkyrie racecar in the top Hypercar class of both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championships from 2025.
It’s an exciting announcement for Aston Martin which ensures the Valkyrie Hypercar will take on the challenge of three of the most prestigious events in sportscar racing: Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Performance is at the core of Aston Martin's DNA, and as anyone who saw the example on display at the recent Starship Supercar Show can attest, the Valkyrie absolutely epitomizes that philosophy.
The Valkyrie is an unlimited Hypercar, designed to deliver breathtaking performance on the track. Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda, emphasized the importance of performance in Aston Martin's ethos and the role of motorsport as the ultimate expression of excellence.
“We have been present at Le Mans since the earliest days, and through those glorious endeavours we succeeded in winning Le Mans in 1959 and our class 19 times over the past 95 years. Now we return to the scene of those first triumphs aiming to write new history with a racing prototype inspired by the fastest production car Aston Martin has ever built.” Said Stroll.
This year sees Aston Martin celebrate its 110th anniversary and the announcements cements the brand’s vision for producing some of the world’s highest performing cars into the future.
Development of the racing Valkyrie is underway at Aston Martin Performance Technologies, situated alongside the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One team's headquarters. The car will be designed to meet the specific aerodynamic and power performance requirements of the Hypercar class in WEC and IMSA, and it will use a modified version of the Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, enhanced to meet the class requirements.
One unique aspect of the racing Valkyrie is the absence of the battery-electric hybrid system present in the road-specification Valkyrie, making it a purebred Hypercar for racing. The Heart of Racing team (a charitable initiative founded by American businessman and New Zealand resident, Gabe Newell) will lead Aston Martin's efforts in both WEC and IMSA, making the Valkyrie the first purebred Hypercar to compete in both championships.
In addition to their Hypercar entry, the brand will also develop new GT3 and GT4 cars based on the Vantage platform, conforming to various GT rule-sets, including the new LMGT3 regulations. These cars will be available for racing starting in 2024, offering a comprehensive range of options for endurance racing enthusiasts.
As Aston Martin embarks on this exciting new era in endurance racing, they aim to compete at all levels of sportscar and GT racing, from Hypercar to GT4, and even the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. This multi-tiered approach signifies their dedication to motorsport and the pursuit of excellence, both on the track and on the road.
