ASTON MARTIN VALKYRIE BRINGS LE MANS DREAMS BACK TO LIFE
Aston Martin Valkyrie back at Le Mans marks one of the most ambitious returns in endurance racing history. After 66 years away from the top class, Aston Martin has unleashed a race-legal version of its road-going Valkyrie hypercar to chase outright victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a feat the British marque last achieved in 1959 with the legendary DBR1.
What is the Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar?
Designed by renowned aerodynamicist Adrian Newey alongside Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman, the Valkyrie AMR-LMH is the first hypercar in Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) history derived directly from a production road car. The result is a machine that blends Formula 1-level engineering with the obsessive attention to detail of a road-going grand tourer. Its ultra-lightweight carbon fibre construction and exceptional power-to-weight ratio push the limits of what WEC regulations allow.
How is the Valkyrie adapted for WEC racing?
To comply with World Endurance Championship regulations, the racing Valkyrie receives reduced power output calibrated for fuel efficiency and reliability across gruelling 24-hour stints. The bodywork is reshaped with aggressive aerodynamic packages targeting optimum downforce and balance at Circuit de la Sarthe's mix of slow chicanes and long straights. Race-specific upgrades include a rapid refuelling system, hydraulic jack points, revised suspension geometry, and an advanced traction management system. The car competes under Aston Martin Performance Technologies, partnered with The Heart of Racing (THOR) Team.
The 2025 racing campaign: WEC and IMSA
Aston Martin launched its Valkyrie on the global stage at the 2025 Qatar 1812 km in February, simultaneously contesting both the eight-round FIA WEC and the 11-round IMSA SportsCar Championship. Two cars carry the famous Aston Martin Racing colours: car #007, driven by Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble and Ross Gunn, and car #009, piloted by Marco Sorensen, Alex Riberas and Roman De Angelis. The campaign builds to a crescendo at Le Mans on June 14-15, 2025, where Aston Martin hopes to add a second chapter to its Le Mans legend alongside its iconic Aston Martin DBR9 Le Mans heritage.
For the full technical breakdown of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH programme, see the official Aston Martin announcement. Motor1 also published an in-depth analysis of the Valkyrie's WEC and IMSA specifications.
Adrian Newey's legacy and Aston Martin's motorsport DNA
The Valkyrie project takes on added significance now that Adrian Newey has formally joined Aston Martin to oversee technical development alongside the Formula 1 team. CEO Adrian Hallmark has described the hypercar as a milestone that embodies every value Aston Martin stands for: beauty, engineering excellence and racing ambition. The continuity between road and track is central to the brand's identity, stretching from the DBR1 victories of 1959 to the Valkyrie's assault on modern Le Mans regulations.
Photo: Aston Martin
Experience Aston Martin racing at TheArsenale
The Valkyrie's racing spirit lives in the collectibles and simulators available at TheArsenale. Recreate Le Mans cornering forces in the Curv Racing Simulator AMR-C01, or add provenance to your collection with the Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 2024 Race-Used Signed Gloves. Browse the full Formula 1 Memorabilia collection and TheArsenale Cars for the ultimate expressions of automotive passion.
