Aston Martin’s Valkyrie is no ordinary hypercar. This particular version is aimed at conquering Le Mans, marking the brand’s return to the prestigious race in pursuit of its first overall victory in 66 years. With the 24 Hours of Le Mans just around the corner in June, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
First teased many years ago and officially announced in October 2023, Aston Martin will enter the 2025 World Endurance Championship (WEC) with two Valkyrie cars, alongside a third entry in IMSA. The campaign kicks off in Qatar later this month, and the Valkyrie is ready for battle.
Interestingly, despite its extraordinary pedigree, this Valkyrie is the least powerful version ever built. WEC’s regulations require the 6.5-liter V12 engine to be detuned from its usual 11,000 rpm and 1,000+ horsepower to a more regulated 680 bhp. However, even with reduced output, the Valkyrie remains a V12—a rarity in a field dominated by V6s and V8s. Aston Martin’s engineers have optimized the engine with a modified, lean-burn version of the Cosworth engine to improve fuel efficiency, allowing for a more refined torque curve.
The Valkyrie will be the only Hypercar at Le Mans derived from a road-going vehicle—talk about standing out in a crowd! To further differentiate it, the car features several changes beyond the engine. The original seven-speed Ricardo gearbox has been replaced with an Xtrac transmission, and the Valkyrie is fitted with a single-point rapid refueling coupling, a high-speed pneumatic jack system, and a cockpit designed for quick exits—a necessity when victory is within reach.
In line with WEC’s regulations, the Valkyrie will also sport Michelin Pilot Sport 18 tires, replacing its usual Cup 2s.
Aston Martin’s commitment to performance is evident in the car’s reworked bodywork, a product of years of fine-tuning by legendary designer Adrian Newey, now on Aston’s payroll. The Valkyrie will compete in the full WEC campaign with a British driver lineup: Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble will lead one team, while Marco Sorensen and Alex Riberas will share driving duties in the second. In IMSA, Ross Gunn and Roman de Angelis will spearhead Aston’s solo charge, with both joining forces for Le Mans in June.
Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark proudly states, “Returning to the fight for overall honours at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is at the very core of our values and marks a key milestone in our motor racing heritage. The Valkyrie, as the only hypercar born from the road, embodies our enduring sporting ethos, one that has defined the brand for over a century.”
The factory program will be managed by The Heart of Racing (THOR), which has previously run Aston’s Vantage in the GT3 category. This time, however, the challenge will be far steeper, with competitors like Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, Cadillac, BMW, Alpine, and Peugeot—most of whom are seasoned veterans in endurance racing.
Aston’s head of endurance motorsport, Adam Carter, embraces the challenge. “We only compete because we want to win,” he explains. “We respect the competition at the highest level, and that’s why we’re here—to prove ourselves against the best.”
With less than five months to go, anticipation is building fast.
