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Aston Martin's Valkyrie AMR-LMH Hypercar Embarks On Track Testing Ahead Of Le Mans Return
The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH has embarked on its initial testing phase. This marks the beginning of Aston Martin's ambitious plan to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year. The car, developed by Aston Martin Performance Technologies and The Heart of Racing, underwent shakedown tests and early evaluations in the UK.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, commented on the car's performance: "The Valkyrie AMR-LMH sets its own standard as a thoroughbred endurance competition car. It is a pure, leading edge racing machine, and while it is very early in the testing cycle, from what we have witnessed so far, we are satisfied that it is achieving the targets and criteria we have set out for it to accomplish."
The Heart of Racing team has established a new headquarters in the UK for their WEC programme. This location is near where the Valkyrie AMR-LMH cars are being built in collaboration with Aston Martin Performance Technologies at Silverstone. The team will oversee the development and testing programme, which will move to European circuits over the summer.
The Valkyrie AMR-LMH is unique among Hypercars because it traces its roots back to a roadgoing counterpart – the Aston Martin Valkyrie. This connection makes it stand out in global endurance motorsport. The car uses a modified version of Cosworth’s 6.5-litre V12 engine, which revs up to 11,000rpm and produces over 1000bhp.
Aston Martin plans to enter two Valkyrie AMR-LMH cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and one car in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) in 2025. The Heart of Racing will manage these entries from their Phoenix headquarters for IMSA and their new UK base for WEC.
Ian James, Team Principal at The Heart of Racing, expressed his excitement: "The first runs for the Valkyrie AMR-LMH have been an immensely proud moment in the programme. The birth of this project has been a couple of years in the making, so to get it to the track and to see it going around in the flesh feels momentous for The Heart of Racing."
Aston Martin's Legacy
Aston Martin’s entry into Hypercar racing ensures their presence across all levels of endurance racing. From gentleman racers to top-tier competitions like Formula 1®, they will be represented at every level from 2025 onwards. Over 240 drivers have raced Aston Martins at Le Mans over nearly a century.
The company’s history at Le Mans includes participation with 27 different chassis and engine combinations through various eras. No other venue has brought Aston Martin as much success or proven their competitive DNA as steadfastly.
The Heart of Racing’s Mario Farnbacher (DEU), Darren Turner (GBR), and Harry Tincknell (GBR) drove during these initial tests. Tincknell previously won the LMGTE class at Le Mans with Aston Martin in 2020.
Technical Specifications
The race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH houses a lean-burning version of Cosworth’s V12 engine. This power unit has been adapted to meet Hypercar class performance standards while enduring long-distance competition rigours.
Aston Martin Performance Technologies collaborates closely with The Heart of Racing to develop this Hypercar for FIA homologation later this year. They aim for its competitive debut in early 2025.
Aston Martin Lagonda aims to be recognised globally as an ultra-luxury British brand producing high-performance cars. Founded by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford in 1913, they are known for style, luxury, performance, and exclusivity.
Sustainability Goals
Aligned with their Racing.Green sustainability strategy, Aston Martin is developing alternatives to internal combustion engines between 2025 and 2030. Their approach includes plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV), aiming for a lineup of electric sports cars and SUVs by then.
Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin designs and exports cars sold in over 50 countries worldwide. Their sports cars are manufactured in Gaydon while their luxury DBX SUV range is produced in St Athan, Wales.
In recent years, significant investments have been made under Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll since 2020. This period also saw Aston Martin's return to top-tier motorsport with their Formula One® team.
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They continue striving towards net-zero manufacturing facilities by 2030 while maintaining their legacy as an iconic British marque.
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