What many people have been wishing for a long time is now becoming a reality - Aston Martin is returning to Le Mans after more than 65 years, and they're doing it with none other than the Valkyrie!
These are incredible news that have reached us here. Aston Martin is not only participating in Formula 1 but also in Le Mans. The Valkyrie prototype is set to become the first hypercar inspired by a road car to compete in both prestigious endurance races simultaneously.
In 1959, Aston Martin managed to win Le Mans with the Aston Martin DBR1/300, which was a tremendous success. However, Aston Martin remained largely unsuccessful at Le Mans after that. Now, Aston Martin aims to relive those glory days by returning with the fastest production car they have, the Valkyrie.
In fact, Aston Martin had previously announced its intention to enter the FIA WEC with the Valkyrie for the 2021 season. This was a big announcement made during a special press conference in Le Mans in 2019. However, the WEC project went quiet for a while before Aston Martin officially announced a hiatus, citing the approval of LMDh vehicles in the WEC as the reason.
Now, work on the racing car has resumed. The Aston Martin Valkyrie will compete as a Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) from 2025, just like the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, Peugeot 9X8, and Ferrari 499P. However, there is a fundamental difference compared to the three mentioned competitors. Aston Martin is utilizing a specific provision in the regulations that allows for modified road cars to be admitted.
By the way, the Valkyrie will be made WEC-ready at "Aston Martin Performance Technologies," located at the AMR Technology Campus in Silverstone - the same place where the Formula 1 team operates. The racing car will be powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine with a displacement of 6.5 liters, developed by Cosworth. The WEC version of the Valkyrie will not feature a hybrid system.
