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Aston Martin Valkyrie Marks Historic Ninth Place Finish In IMSA WeatherTech Championship Debut
The Aston Martin Valkyrie achieved a significant milestone by finishing ninth in its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut. Drivers Alex Riberas, Roman De Angelis, and Ross Gunn secured the first points finish for the Valkyrie hypercar in the GTP class. This marks the Valkyrie as the first road car-derived GTP class vehicle to achieve a points finish in top-level endurance racing.
In its inaugural season, the Aston Martin Valkyrie has already made history by being the first 'Le Mans Hypercar' (LMH) to compete and score points in an IMSA race. The car's impressive performance was showcased at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, where it finished ninth. This event is known for its challenging track conditions, making this achievement even more noteworthy.
The Valkyrie is unique as it is derived from a road-legal hypercar and competes in IMSA’s premier GTP category. It features a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis and a modified 6.5-litre V12 engine, adhering to hypercar regulations with a power limit of 680bhp. This positions Aston Martin back at the forefront of US sportscar racing for the first time since 2011.
Ross Gunn expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "It was an absolutely awesome job by everyone in the team to get to the end of what is probably the toughest race in the world." He praised his teammates Alex Riberas and Roman De Angelis for their solid driving stints.
Sebring's bumpy surface poses a significant challenge for any race car, yet the Valkyrie ran smoothly throughout after qualifying 12th. The car maintained its position within the top ten from early on and competed against vehicles with years of development behind them. The team overcame obstacles during the race, demonstrating resilience and skill.
Aston Martin Head of Endurance Adam Carter commented on their progress: "Sebring is well renowned for being a tough test on any racecar... But we were confident in the car’s ability to go the distance." He highlighted that they learned valuable lessons and gathered data for future races.
Partner Team Success
The Heart of Racing (THOR) team also celebrated success with their Aston Martin Vantage GT3 securing third place in the GTD class at Sebring. Drivers Tom Gamble, Zacharie Robichon, and Casper Stevenson delivered a strong performance despite facing challenges during the race.
This podium finish marks THOR's second consecutive podium this season following their third-place result at Daytona. Ian James, THOR team principal, praised his crew: "The guys in the #27 Vantage did an awesome job... We’ve secured our second podium in a row."
Looking Forward
The next round of competition will take place at Long Beach on April 11-12. The team aims to build on their achievements and continue improving their performance. With each lap completed, they gain insights that will help them come back stronger every time.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie's journey has just begun, but it has already demonstrated its potential on some of motorsport's most demanding tracks. As they gather more experience and data from races like Sebring, there are opportunities for further development and success ahead.
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