Aston Martin begins a new chapter in its illustrious competition history with the reveal of the Valkyrie hypercar which has been in development since 2023. The hypercar project continues the story of the Valkyrie which dates back to 2016, with 275 units produced between November 2021 and December 2024.
The hypercar will be the only competitor in the FIA’s Hypercar class that is derived from a road-legal hypercar. It is also the first racing car built to the that will contest both the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] and the US-based IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship [IMSA]. It will make its world competition debut when the works Aston Martin THOR Team enters two Valkyries in the opening round of the 2025 WEC in Qatar on February 28.
“This is a proud moment for Aston Martin. To be returning to the fight for overall honours 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 sportscar 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 century,” said Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda.
Ultimate road-legal hypercar for the track
The new racing car with a race-optimised carbonfibre chassis is powered by a modified, lean-burn version of the Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine. In standard road-going form, this engine revs to 11,000 rpm and develops over 1,000 bhp. The power unit is enhanced and adapted to meet the performance window of the Hypercar class and developed to withstand the rigours of top-level long-distance competition.
On reliability and durability, the hypercar regulations, including a power limit of 680 bhp, offer advantages for a V12 that had robustness built in from its inception to match its high duty-cycle as a road car. For racing, fuel efficiency has become a particular focus of development.
“Running lean to reduce the amount of fuel you are carrying to deliver the required stint energy is important,” said Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsports. “We operate the engine slower than it’s capable of because we require less power. The lower power limit within the regulations creates an opportunity for us to revisit the torque curve and reduce frictional losses by reducing engine speed to increase fuel efficiency.”
From road to racing car
The transformation from road to racing car is dictated predominantly by the FIA’s technical regulations written for the specific parameters of competition, in terms of both safety and performance.
To meet the challenges of racing, including rapid driver and tyre changes and live refuelling at pitstops, plus the possibility of car-to-car contact, developments include quick-change front and rear bodywork, a single-point rapid refuelling coupling, a high-speed pneumatic jack system incorporated into the chassis and a driver cockpit optimised for safety, quick access and visibility.
The racing suspension configuration features double wishbones front and rear, with pushrod actuated torsion bar springs with adjustable side and central dampers. The Valkyrie runs on 18-inch Michelin Pilot Sport tyres that are mandatory under the Hypercar regulations.
“The absolute performance is limited by the regulations, irrespective of development,” explained Carter. “There’s a minimum weight, a power limitation through driveshaft torque control and an aerodynamic performance window. Every competitor’s car gets measured in a full-size wind tunnel. So, it’s about optimising the characteristics of the Valkyrie within the fundamental performance contributors.”
2 cars for WEC, 1 for IMSA
Two Valkyries have been entered for the WEC season, bearing a green livery synonymous with many of the great British motorsport glories at Le Mans. However, only a single Valkyrie will compete in IMSA, running in a special version of the distinctive THOR blue livery, starting from the Sebring 12 Hours in March.
The WEC season is made up of 8 rounds. Following the season opener in Qatar, the championship includes European races at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, then Interlagos in Brazil, COTA in Austin, Texas, Fuji in Japan and the finale in Bahrain on November 8.
The IMSA schedule is made up of 11 rounds, including the Sebring 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, plus other major US venues such as Long Beach, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.