Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar hits the track for testing

Aston Martin has begun on-track testing with its Valkyrie AMR-LMH Hypercar that will compete in the 2025 World Endurance and IMSA championships, heralding the manufactures return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The AM Heart of Racing team are aiming to become the first LMH rule-set manufacturer to compete across both championships, and has completed the machines first shakedown in the UK this week, with its entire WEC programme to be run out of its Silverstone headquarters as a British based team.

Developed by the Aston Martin Performance Technologies and works team, the Valkyrie was initially slated as an formation WEC entrant along with Toyota in 2020, but the manufacturer was thought to be irked by the later introduction of the more cost-effective LMDh ruleset, as well as having to focus its funding on its fledgling Formula 1 program.

The LMDh ruleset – where teams can choose from four chassis models and use controlled components – was introduced after the factory based LMH ruleset as a more cost effective option to attract more manufacturers back to the top flight of Sportscar racing.

Four years on, and the Valkyrie is still set to be the first Hypercar entrant that can trace its roots back to a road-going machine, and with years of pre-design and planning under its belt, could potentially hit the track as a fairly competitive entity.

Note: Although the Tipo-6 LMH-C from WEC competitor Isotta Fraschini has road-going options, its track only machine wasn’t based on its road-going vehicle.

Aston Martins road-going Hypercar began production in 2019, and was available for purchase by 2021 – it also featured the 6.5-litre Cosworth V12 petrol engine

The AMR-LMH is sure to be a wonderful sounding machine, with a Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine at its heart, which in standard form, revs to 11,000rpm and develops over 1000bhp, which will be tuned down to 680HP for WEC competition.

At its track day, it was piloted by AM’s High Performance development driver Darren Turner (GBR), The Heart of Racing’s Mario Farnbacher (DEU) and Harry Tincknell (GBR) – the winner of the LMGTE class at the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans with Aston Martin.

This week’s test was the first test with its body work after a systems test to check that the drivetrain, the braking system where working had already been completed at Silverstone and Portimao, with its FIA homologation program to kick off later in the year.

With Aston Martins two-pronged attack at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the manufacturer will embark on its quest to win its first Le Mans since 1959, when it overcame a contingent a Ferrari 250’s to achieve a one-two with its DBR1/300, which had American Carroll Shelby and Brit Roy Salvadori at the wheel.

Aston Martin will begin in quest in 2025 to win its first Le Mans since 1959

Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, said that although it’s early in its testing cycle, the signs are promising. 

“The Valkyrie AMR-LMH sets its own standard as a thoroughbred endurance competition car,” Carter said. 

“It is a pure, leading edge racing machine, and while it is very early in the testing cycle, from what we have witnessed so far, we are satisfied that it is achieving the targets and criteria we have set out for it to accomplish.”

The Heart of Racing Team Principal, Ian James , also reiterated the promising performance standards.

“The first runs for the Valkyrie AMR-LMH have been an immensely proud moment in the programme. 

“The birth of this project has been a couple of years in the making, so to get it to the track and to see it going around in the flesh, feels momentous for The Heart of Racing. 

“We’re looking forward to the journey ahead – it’s a steep hill to climb for everyone involved in this project. We are at the pinnacle of sportscar racing, the competitors are formidable, and they have been doing it a long time. 

“Some of them have endless resources. We know we are going up against the best, so we intend to represent Aston Martin at the same level. I believe, from what we have seen so far, and with the DNA of where this car came from, I think we have the right tools to be able to do this successfully.”

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