Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Aston Martin Eyes Historic Le Mans Win With Valkyrie LMH Entry In 2025
Aston Martin, in collaboration with Heart of Racing, will field two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This marks Aston Martin's return to the top class of Le Mans, aiming for its first outright win since 1959.
The decision follows a regulation change by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), mandating a minimum of two cars per manufacturer in the Hypercar class from 2025. Aston Martin supports this change, which was announced during the official press conference ahead of this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, expressed pride in the brand's long-standing association with endurance racing. "We first raced at Le Mans more than 95 years ago. We are committed to WEC’s hypercar concept and bringing our famous Wings back to the forefront of international sportscar racing," he said.
The Valkyrie AMR-LMH features a race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis and a modified Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine. This engine, originally designed for the Valkyrie road car, revs to 11,000rpm and develops over 1000bhp. The power unit is being enhanced to meet the Balance of Performance requirements of the Hypercar class.
Unlike the road-specification Valkyrie, the race car will not include a battery-electric hybrid system. Development is well advanced, with recent on-track evaluations at Silverstone and Portimao circuits. The Heart of Racing has also established a UK team headquarters near Aston Martin’s Silverstone facility.
Commitment to IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Aston Martin and Heart of Racing will also debut the Valkyrie AMR-LMH in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s GTP class in 2025. This programme will be managed from Heart of Racing’s Phoenix headquarters in North America.
Heart of Racing Team Principal Ian James commented on the new WEC ruleset: "We have had to bring forward our plans to run multiple cars in the WEC Hypercar class. The challenge ahead is immense, and we are looking forward to the journey."
Aston Martin's Endurance Racing Legacy
Aston Martin’s entry into the Hypercar class ensures its presence across all levels of endurance racing, from gentleman racers to top-tier competition. From 2025, Aston Martin will be the only manufacturer competing at all levels of sportscar and GT racing, as well as in Formula 1.
Over the past 95 years, more than 240 drivers have raced Aston Martins at Le Mans using 27 different chassis and engine combinations. This extensive history underscores Aston Martin's deep-rooted connection to endurance racing.
Continue with Google