Aston Martin has begun a new chapter in its illustrious competition history with the unveiling of the hypercar Valkyrie, with which it will compete for victory in the upcoming edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Gaydon brand began developing the version intended to compete in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), as well as in the North American Endurance Championship (IMSA), long before the production version. However, Aston Martin ultimately abandoned the project in early 2020.
The project was later resumed, and after more than 15,000 km of testing already completed, the competition-ready Valkyrie is set to make its debut in Qatar on February 28.
Developed according to Hypercar category regulations, this Valkyrie utilizes a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine from Cosworth, combined with a hybrid system, which has led to a reduction in power from 1,140 hp to 689 hp in order to comply with competition regulations.
This competition Valkyrie has much in common with the production model and the limited-run AMR Pro; however, it features an even more extravagant design, including front and rear panels that can be quickly removed and reattached, a high-speed pneumatic lifting system for the hypercar, and many custom aerodynamic elements, including a completely revamped rear section equipped with a new wing and shark fin.
With all these features, Aston Martin aims to reclaim victory at Le Mans, something that hasn’t happened in over six decades. “The Aston Martin Valkyrie is not just a hypercar; it is a revolution in the history of automotive engineering that represents the pinnacle of performance, design, and innovation. With an extraordinary combination of F1 technology, the Valkyrie has truly been built to compete, and its participation in endurance racing at the highest level will further solidify all the technological work developed,” said Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin.
