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Aston Martin Valkyrie Aims For Historic Victory At The 2025 Le Mans Race
Aston Martin is set to make a significant return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its Valkyrie hypercar. This marks the first time since 1959 that the British luxury brand aims for an overall victory at this prestigious event. The Valkyrie, a road-derived hypercar, will compete in the race, showcasing Aston Martin's rich racing heritage.
The Aston Martin THOR Team will field two Valkyries, each carrying a special livery featuring the Union Flag. This design celebrates British racing history at Le Mans. The #007 car will be driven by an all-British team: Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble, and Ross Gunn. Meanwhile, Marco Sørensen, Alex Riberas, and Roman De Angelis will pilot the #009 car.
The Valkyrie stands out as the only hypercar derived from a road-legal model competing in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA series in 2025. Its carbon-fibre chassis is powered by a modified 6.5-litre V12 engine developed by Cosworth. This engine adheres to a strict power limit for competition purposes.
Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin, expressed excitement about Valkyrie's debut at Le Mans. "Le Mans is the pinnacle of endurance motorsport," he said. "It is only right that the Hypercar class contains an Aston Martin." The company aims to deliver a performance worthy of its legacy.
The THOR Team returns to three-driver line-ups used earlier this year in Qatar. Ross Gunn rejoins Tincknell and Gamble in the #007 entry. For Gunn and Gamble, this marks their first appearance in Le Mans' top class. The #009 car features Sørensen making his 11th start at Le Mans alongside Riberas and De Angelis.
Ian James, team principal of Aston Martin THOR, highlighted their realistic expectations for Valkyrie's debut at Le Mans. "Finishing with both cars and securing points would be a supreme success," he stated. The team has been steadily improving its systems and gathering vital data throughout the season.
Aston Martin's Rich Racing Legacy
Aston Martin's history at Le Mans dates back to 1928 when it first competed with AM415 'Internationals'. Over the years, it has achieved numerous class victories and an overall win in 1959 with Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori driving the DBR1.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, emphasised the company's competitive spirit: "Aston Martin was born through a desire to compete." He noted that Valkyrie represents this mindset and has already captured fans' hearts worldwide.
Vantage's Pursuit of Glory
Alongside Valkyrie, Aston Martin's Vantage returns to Le Mans seeking its sixth class victory. Partner teams The Heart of Racing (THOR) and Racing Spirit of Léman (RSL) will field two Vantage GT3 cars powered by twin-turbo V8 engines.
Ian James expressed optimism about Vantage's chances: "We have shown strong performances through the season so far." With double points on offer at Le Mans, achieving a good result is crucial for their campaign.
Mattia Drudi embarks on an endurance marathon starting with his debut at Le Mans before heading to Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours consecutively. He looks forward to this challenging schedule as an opportunity for more racing experience.
The RSL team features Derek De Boer, Eduardo Barrichello, and Valentin Hasse Clot driving another Vantage GT3 entry. For de Boer and Barrichello, this marks their first appearance at Le Mans while Hasse Clot returns after debuting last year.
Aston Martin continues its pursuit of excellence on motorsport's grandest stage with both Valkyrie hypercars aiming for success alongside Vantage GT3 entries seeking further glory in their respective classes during this iconic endurance race weekend.
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