Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar will debut in the FIA WEC at the Qatar 1812km. This marks a historic entry as the first road-legal hypercar in the top competition classes. The THOR team aims for victory at Le Mans with a strong driver lineup featuring both experienced and rookie drivers. Team leadership emphasizes the importance of continual learning and competition in this prestigious championship.
Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar will make its global racing debut at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 2025 season opener, the Qatar 1812km, held at Lusail International Circuit. As the first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ produced by Aston Martin, it uniquely represents a road-legal model competing in the WEC and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, marking a significant milestone for the company.
The Valkyrie features a race-optimized carbon-fiber chassis and a powerful modified 6.5-liter V12 engine, developed by Cosworth. This combination allows the car to reach over 1,000 bhp, although it will run under a strict power limit of 500 kW (680 bhp) to comply with hypercar standards. This marks Aston Martin’s return to top-tier endurance racing for the first time since the AMR1 Group C challenger in 1989.
Aston Martin’s THOR team aims for its first overall victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1959. The two-car driver line-up for the 007 Valkyrie includes seasoned professionals Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble, alongside Ross Gunn for endurance races. The sister 009 Valkyrie includes Marco Sørensen and Alex Riberas, with Roman De Angelis also participating in longer-distance events.
As the excitement builds for the debut, driver Harry Tincknell expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, acknowledging the steep learning curve ahead due to the late entry into hypercar competition. Teammate Tom Gamble recognized the support from their team as crucial for aiming for a strong debut result. Other drivers echoed similar sentiments about making history with the Valkyrie project.
Team Principal Ian James highlighted the significance of competing at a world championship level with Aston Martin’s exceptional hypercar, emphasizing realism about their initial goals but confidence in the team’s potential. Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport, described the Valkyrie as a pivotal moment in automotive history, rooted in technological achievement and the lineage of the road-going Valkyrie.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar is set to make its historic racing debut in the FIA WEC at Qatar, competing in both the WEC and IMSA championships. With a potent engine and innovative design derived from road-legal technology, this marks a significant return for Aston Martin to top-tier endurance racing. The driver lineup blends experience and youth, increasing anticipation for a competitive debut, while the team aims for long-term improvement and potential race victories.
Original Source: www.astonmartin.com
