The limited-edition Aston Martin Valiant inspired by Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is credited for the birth of the Valiant, an ultra-exclusive track-focused, road-legal special edition. Alonso, who drives for the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team, had earlier commissions the automaker to produce for him a lightweight, more extreme, racing car-inspired version of the Valour.

“Valour was a spectacular celebration of Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary, and stirred me to create a more extreme, race car-inspired version that is track-focussed, while also delivering a thrilling drive on the road. Valiant is born from my passion for driving at the limit and I have enjoyed working closely with the Q by Aston Martin team on both the design and technical specification and believe we have created a masterpiece,” said Alonso.

Taking inspiration from this car, Q by Aston Martin (the in-house bespoke division) has decided to also offer something similar to 38 customers. While first deliveries are due to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Valiant will make its public debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed this month.

As the new pinnacle of ferocious front-engined Aston Martin limited edition specials, the Valiant has been developed to deliver its best performance on-track, while remaining fully legal to be driven on public roads to the track.

It boasts an exotic specification to delight the purist and excite the most demanding driver. The highlight of this is Aston Martin’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine – now developing up to 745 ps/753 Nm. Immense fade-free stopping power comes from standard-fit Carbon Ceramic brakes measuring 410 mm x 38 mm front and 360 mm x 32 mm rear.

Focus on weight-saving
To reduce weight and optimise the chassis for serious track use, a 3D-printed rear subframe saves 3 kgs with no reduction in stiffness, while a magnesium torque tube reduces mass at the centre point of the car by 8.6 kgs.

Lightweight 21-inch magnesium wheels – with 275/35 front and 325/30 rear tyres – improve steering response and wheel control, reducing unsprung mass by 14 kgs. A motorsport-spec lithium-ion battery has been fitted to save a further 11.5 kgs.

The most influential change in the character of Valiant comes from the fitment of Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) dampers, capable of simultaneously adjusting each damper to one of 32  discreet damper curves in less than 6 milliseconds. The ASV system, a truly state-of-the-art suspension technology, provides Aston Martin’s engineers with almost limitless scope for tuning ride and handling characteristics.

The dampers offer motorsport-level damping control and an operating control bandwidth previously exclusive to the highest echelons of motorsport. The Multimatic ASV dampers are only found fitted to the most dynamic, most exclusive vehicles available and are not available in the aftermarket.

To exploit the increased limits of the new suspension set-up and greater aerodynamic downforce, each of the pre-set Driving Modes – Sport, Sport+ and Track – have been recalibrated to aid the driver in progressively exploring the car’s full performance.

Aggressive, extreme and unambiguous
The Valiant’s dramatic bodywork makes an explicit statement of intent. Through extensive use of lightweight carbonfibre, the evocative profile speaks of a truly heavyweight punch. Broad and muscular with sharply chiseled features shaped to generate stability enhancing downforce and minimize drag. Every inch of the Valiant’s sculpted form serves not only an aesthetic function but also promotes aerodynamic efficiency.

Inspired by wheel covers fitted to the legendary 1980 RHAM/1 ‘Muncher’ Le Mans racer and attached directly to the lightweight forged magnesium wheels, the aero discs reduce turbulence and drag created by the rotating wheels.

In addition, six strategically placed inlets draw cooling air onto the carbon ceramic brakes to maintain optimum braking performance during track use, with apertures around the circumference of the wheel allowing the extreme heat generated by the carbon ceramic discs to vent.

The Valiant’s rear-end design is equally effective and dramatic, with the sharp Kamm tail and boldly upswept decklid topped by a prominent fixed wing. Shaped to balance downforce gains made by the front, it is one of many unmistakable design signatures on the car.

A fixed, one-piece clamshell rear, features a hinged rear screen panel, allowing access to a load space perfect for the storage of helmets and clothing to go racing.

Completing the aerodynamic package is the functional rear diffuser. Designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics to make positive reductions in drag and lift, the carbonfibre construction provides the added benefit of reducing mass at the rear.

The diffuser also serves to perfectly frame Valiant’s spectacular quad exit, titanium exhaust system, which has been styled for maximum visual impact and generates the engine’s soundtrack.

Race-bred functionality within
Like its exterior, the Valiant’s interior is a combination of race-bred functionality, with design flourishes and mastery of materials for which Aston Martin is renowned. The strictly 2-seat cockpit has extensive use of exposed satin-finish carbonfibre, emphasising the focus on lightweight materials. Strategic placement of seat padding and finely-tailored, lightweight upholstery add targeted comfort, luxury and tactility.

Particular attention is paid to points of contact between driver and machine. This begins with a new steering wheel. Unique to Valiant and designed to reflect the purity and connection found throughout the car, it is perfectly round with a slimmer-diameter rim and spokes devoid of switches for intuitive feel and zero distractions.

To highlight the mechanical nature of the manual gearbox, a cutaway in the transmission tunnel exposes the gear linkage running rearward to the 6-speed transaxle. Development has focused on perfecting the weight and feel of the gearshift, with a new bespoke spherical gear knob and H-pattern shifting maximizing gearshift effort and precision.

With the Valiant being designed with focused track use in mind, driver comfort and safety are paramount. To this end, there’s a built-in half-cage as-standard together with bespoke trimmed Recaro Podium seats which have innovative pads featuring passive thorax ventilation for increased comfort during extreme driving. The steel half-cage provides the anchor point to allow 4-point race harnesses to be fitted. Recaro Podium seats provide exceptional lateral and shoulder support,

Describing Valiant’s aggressive look, Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Creative Officer, said: “Valiant is an extrovert. One look leaves you in no doubt of its intentions. A true thoroughbred aimed at being enjoyed to the full on a racetrack, yet still useable on the road, it takes clear inspiration from motorsport, expressing its character through dramatic, muscular form and a plethora of beautiful, functional details.”

New Aston Martin Vantage is fastest ever in 74-year history