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Aston Martin Valkyries Make Historic Debut In WEC And IMSA Races This Weekend
This weekend marks a significant milestone for Aston Martin as the Valkyrie hypercar competes in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The races take place at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Laguna Seca in the USA, showcasing the Valkyrie's capabilities on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously.
The Aston Martin THOR Team will field two Valkyries in the WEC at Spa. Tom Gamble and Harry Tincknell will drive car #007, while Alex Riberas and Marco Sørensen will handle car #009. Meanwhile, Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn will race the #23 Valkyrie in IMSA at Laguna Seca.
The Valkyrie stands out as the only 'Hypercar' competing in both IMSA's premier GTP category and the WEC. It made its debut earlier this year at the Qatar 1812km race. This dual participation highlights Aston Martin's commitment to pushing boundaries in motorsport.
At Laguna Seca, the team aims to continue its strong performance after securing points finishes at Sebring and Long Beach. The challenging 2.2-mile Monterey circuit, known for its tricky corners like the Corkscrew, will test their skills further.
Spa-Francorchamps presents a high-speed challenge for Aston Martin's WEC team. Following a successful double finish at Imola, where both cars completed the race without issues, Spa offers a final opportunity to refine preparations ahead of Le Mans next month.
Tom Gamble expressed his excitement about racing at Spa, stating: "I can’t wait to race the Valkyrie at one of my favourite racing circuits – Spa! We had a really positive race at Imola with both cars making the finish."
Drivers' Perspectives
Harry Tincknell shared his thoughts on racing at Spa: "Spa is one of the most iconic tracks in the world so it is always a privilege to drive there, especially with the Valkyrie in the WEC." He hopes for a strong start compared to Imola.
Alex Riberas is eager to return to Spa: "I’m very excited to be back at Spa, which is one of the most fun tracks on the calendar for us." He looks forward to building on their progress from Italy.
IMSA Ambitions
In IMSA, Ross Gunn anticipates an exciting race at Laguna Seca: "I cannot wait to get in the Valkyrie this weekend at Laguna Seca. It’s always been one of my personal favourites with the famous Corkscrew."
Roman De Angelis views Laguna Seca as a significant event: "I’m very much looking forward to racing at Laguna Seca. I feel like it is the first of the ‘normal’ events we race at during the season."
Aston Martin Vantage GT3
Aston Martin's Vantage GT3 will also be active across several iconic venues this weekend, including Spa-Francorchamps and Laguna Seca. The Heart of Racing team aims to recover from setbacks experienced during their last outing.
Darren Turner returns to IMSA action alongside Casper Stevenson as they aim for success with Vantage GT3. Meanwhile, Walkenhorst Motorsport targets victory at Nürburgring Nordschleife with drivers Nicki Thiim and David Pittard.
Team Insights
Ian James, Team Principal of Aston Martin THOR Team, emphasised their focus on execution: "The momentum continues to build within the programme and each lap completed is another step forward towards our goals."
Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport Adam Carter highlighted this weekend's significance: "This weekend marks another big test for Valkyrie as it faces both challenges of Spa-Francorchamps and Laguna Seca."
The upcoming races provide valuable insights into Valkyrie's performance potential under diverse conditions ahead of Le Mans next month. With all elements aligned for success across different championships globally this weekend promises excitement for Aston Martin enthusiasts worldwide.
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