Aston Martin Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar Receives BoP Boost Ahead of Spa 6 Hours Showdown
In a dramatic turn of events, Aston Martin’s Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar has been granted a significant Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustment leading up to the highly anticipated Spa 6 Hours race in the World Endurance Championship. The British manufacturer has made headlines by shedding 16kg of weight and enjoying a power increase of 15kW (20bhp) compared to the previous round at Imola. This move aims to level the playing field for the struggling Valkyrie after lackluster performances in the initial races of the season.
The Heart of Racing factory team will unleash the revamped Valkyrie at Spa, weighing in at 1035kg and boasting a formidable 520kW (697bhp) – the maximum power permitted in the Hypercar category. This sudden adjustment comes after the Valkyrie’s disappointing outings at Qatar and Imola rounds, where it failed to showcase its true potential. The BoP system takes into account the performance of each Hypercar over the past three events, with new entries like the Aston Martin being initially treated as the fastest car until sufficient race data is accumulated.
Not only has the Valkyrie’s weight and power seen a significant boost, but the per stint energy allocation for the non-hybrid Aston has also been increased by 8MJ to 908. Meanwhile, other Hypercars have faced weight increases ranging from 1kg for the Alpine A424 to 12kg for the Ferrari 499P LMH. Ferrari’s dominant 499P model, victorious in both WEC races this season, has surprisingly lost 19kW in maximum power, signaling a shift in the competitive landscape.
Toyota’s GR010 HYBRID LMH and BMW’s M Hybrid V8 LMH have both experienced setbacks, with power decreases of 20kW and 10kW respectively, along with incremental weight additions. On the contrary, Ferrari and Porsche have seen power increases under the BoP’s adjustments to balance straight-line speeds, gearing up for a thrilling showdown at Spa.
As teams gear up for the final event before the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours in June, all eyes are on the revitalized Aston Martin Valkyrie and its newfound advantage on the track. Stay tuned as the battle for supremacy in the World Endurance Championship heats up at the legendary Spa circuit.