Aston Martin has confirmed on the eve of this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans that it will enter two Valkyries next year, subject to approval by race organizers. The Valkyries will race in the premier Hypercar category of the FIA World Endurance Championship. Aston Martin won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in 1959 with Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby driving an Aston Martin DBR1.
Two Valkyries required by the regulations
A year ago, the manufacturer confirmed plans to bring the V12-powered Valkyrie hypercar to Le Mans, initially with just one car. However, the rules have since been changed to require manufacturers to enter a minimum of two cars in the Hypercar category, in which the Valkyrie will compete at Le Mans.
The queen category of Endurance
The Hypercar category is the premier category of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the flagship race of which is the Le Mans event. Similar to the GTP class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, the Hypercar category is open to racing cars built to LMH and LMDh rules. The Valkyrie is developed to meet LMH rules.
A partnership with Heart of Racing
Aston Martin has joined forces with the American Heart of Racing team, which already enters Aston Martin Vantage GT3s in the GT categories of the World Endurance and SportsCar Championships. The team was created to help raise money for the Seattle Children's Cardiology Research Fund.
A Valkyrie AMR-LMH very different from the road
Aston Martin is already well advanced in the development of the race car, with the Valkyrie AMR Pro launched in 2021 originally intended to be an LMH race car ready to race at Le Mans as early as 2021. This plan had been put on hold in 2020 following the pandemic. The new car, which will be known as the Valkyrie AMR-LMH, is now being tested at circuits including Silverstone and Portimao.
The Valkyrie AMR-LMH will be very different from the road car. It will have a unique chassis, longer and wider. It will retain the 6.5-liter V12 from the road car, but with modifications to meet Balance of Performance rules and the durability needed for a 24-hour race. The road car's mild hybrid system will be removed.
Achieving another overall victory
Aston Martin previously won overall at Le Mans in 1959, with Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby in an Aston Martin DBR1. From 2025, the manufacturer will once again seek absolute victory in the French classic.
Aston Martin will also be the only manufacturer to commit to Formula 1 as well as the highest level of the World Endurance and SportsCar Championships, whilst retaining its current GT racing programme. A massive involvement which demonstrates the sporting ambitions of the British brand.
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