Aston Martin has announced its entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its Valkyrie, set to compete in both WEC and IMSA championships from 2025.
The Valkyrie will retain its 6.5-liter V-12 engine for the races.
Aston Martin’s entry will be based on the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro.
The Valkyrie is slated to compete against a strong field of Hypercar rivals in 2025.
Aston Martin is gearing up for a return to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, announcing that its Valkyrie hypercar will compete in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech Championship starting 2025. This move will place the Valkyrie in the center of three of the world’s most renowned endurance races: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 at Daytona, and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Astin Maritn Valkyrie WEC IMSA | Photo : Aston Martin
Historically, racing has been integral to the Valkyrie’s vision. However, initial efforts to prepare the car for Hypercar endurance racing faced delays in 2020 after the involvement of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, leading to a change in Aston’s racing strategy. But, as of 2021, the British automaker reaffirmed its commitment to racing the Valkyrie.
Astin Maritn Valkyrie WEC IMSA | Photo : Aston Martin
The Valkyrie’s track version, the AMR Pro, was initially designed in line with WEC’s LMH regulations for the Hypercar class. These regulations later aligned with IMSA’s LMDh, which emphasizes using a majority of standardized components to reduce expenses. Notably, Aston Martin has chosen to position the racing Valkyrie as an LMH entrant, allowing greater design flexibility. This means, unlike some competitors, the Valkyrie will race without a hybrid system.
Even with varied technologies across classes, Hypercar racing aims for an equitable competition. A set of Balance of Performance (BoP) restrictions will ensure all participating cars have an equal opportunity to shine. Aston has also confirmed that the racing Valkyrie will harness the power of its 6.5-liter V-12 engine, although there will likely be modifications to its output to align with BoP guidelines.
Astin Maritn Valkyrie WEC IMSA | Photo : Aston Martin
In 2025, the Valkyrie will face stiff competition from numerous established brands in the Hypercar and GTP classes. However, the Valkyrie boasts a unique advantage: it’s the only hypercar in the lineup derived from a production car. With Aston Martin’s rich racing history, including 19 class wins at Le Mans and an overall victory in 1959, the Valkyrie’s entry is eagerly anticipated by racing enthusiasts worldwide.
Astin Maritn Valkyrie WEC IMSA | Photo : Aston Martin
