24h Le Mans
Hypercars under the microscope | Aston Martin has ventured into the world of Hypercar with the Valkyrie in the hope of overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Valkyrie is a true phenomenon in that it is the only Hypercar derived from a street-legal vehicle. A singular profile that combines performance and the challenges of endurance.
While Aston Martin’s rivals have designed prototypes dedicated entirely to racing, the iconic British manufacturer has taken a different route by adapting its Valkyrie road-going Hypercar for the racetrack. The approach is certainly bold, but one made possible by the technical regulations governing the Hypercar class which authorise cars derived from production models – if they have been significantly modified for racing.
The result is a breathtaking machine, originally intended for the road but redesigned for Le Mans, and now optimised for the world’s two major endurance series, the FIA WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Powering the la Valkyrie is a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine designed by Cosworth. In the street-legal version, this engine reaches 11,000 rpm and exceeds 1,000 horsepower. It has however been reined in to comply with the 500 kW (680 hp) ceiling laid down by the competition rulebook, while preserving its personality.
Aston Martin has opted to cut back the engine’s horsepower and revs to boost its reliability and fuel consumption – a key factor in endurance. The outcome is a more efficient engine capable of going the distance while preserving the pure sensations procured by a V12.
The Valkyrie is built on a rigid, ultra-light carbon fibre monocoque chassis. The car’s aerodynamics are inherited from the combined expertise of Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer, and Adrian Newey, the renowned Formula One engineer who recently joined Aston Martin F1. The pair has designed an outline that generates optimal downforce within the strict limits mapped out by the Balance of Performance (BoP).
The racing version includes quick-release fairings front and rear, a centralised refuelling system and a redesigned cockpit to improve safety and the driver's field of view.
The Valkyrie boasts double-wishbone suspension with pushrods and adjustable dampers. With this setup, fine-tuning is extremely precise – an essential feature when it comes to tweaking the car to suit the various circuits on the championship calendar. Like all Hypercars, the Valkyrie is shod with 18-inch Michelin tyres developed specifically for Hypercar racing.
An Xtrac seven-speed sequential gearbox with a steering wheel-mounted paddle shift system guarantees ultrarapid gear change.
Since its first outing in the summer of 2024, the Valkyrie has covered over 15,000 km in testing. The development programme crossed Europe (Donington, Silverstone, Vallelunga, Jerez) before moving onto the Middle East (Bahrain, Qatar) and then the United States (Road Atlanta, Sebring, Daytona) for testing under a variety of challenging conditions. The Heart of Racing team carries the manufacturer’s ambitions in both WEC and IMSA with its sights set on a prestigious victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Measuring up to the world’s greatest constructors and rivalling with them from day one in the championship standings would be a remarkable feat. While other makes have several seasons of experience under their belts, Aston Martin is taking its first steps in the class. The British manufacturer is setting out on a long learning curve at the peak of endurance. Seeing the two Valkyries reach the chequered flag would therefore be a fine success in itself.
Aston Martin Thor Team currently stands in eighth spot in the FIA Hypercar Manufacturers’ Championship.
For Aston Martin, returning to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Valkyrie is much more than a sporting challenge, it’s a demonstration of know-how. By combining the best of its road hypercar with the demands of endurance, the British firm is being driven by a tradition of innovation that could lead to a historic win.
Don’t miss the other episodes in our “Hypercars under the microscope” series in which we analyse the prototypes in the high-quality field.
Coming up: the BMW M Hybrid V8 entered by BMW M Team WRT.
In case you missed them: Alpine A424 and Cadillac V-Series.R
Watch all the action from the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, live or on demand with the FIA WEC TV official app! Don’t miss a thing! Check out the app for further information.
