Regular maintenance is crucial for carefree driving, whether you’re behind the wheel of a family car or a high-end supercar. A typical service routine involves changing fluids, filters, and tires. Interestingly, the Aston Martin Valkyrie almost had the entire rear wing included as a routine replacement item.
In an interview with James Manners, the head of vehicle engineering for the Valkyrie, Hagerty revealed that originally, the maintenance schedule for the Valkyrie included replacing the rear wing every 25,000 miles.
The idea of replacing the rear wing stemmed from the Formula 1 background of the design. Red Bull Racing, in collaboration with Aston Martin, crafted the Valkyrie with F1-like characteristics. In Formula 1, rear wings are engineered to be lightweight and have a fatigue life sufficient for a race weekend. Hence, to Red Bull’s team, a rear wing with a lifespan of 25,000 miles was considered quite durable.
Aston Martin disagreed with this approach for a road vehicle. Manners remarked, “You can’t simply schedule ‘replace the bodywork!'” Instead, the rear wing underwent a redesign to ensure its longevity throughout the car’s lifetime.
YouTube/Hagerty
Opting for a permanent rear wing solution makes practical sense. While owners of Aston Martin’s powerful 1,160-horsepower hypercar may not be short on budget, frequent wing replacements could be cumbersome. Managing the production and stock of expensive, fragile carbon fiber components over the years would have posed challenges. Furthermore, a wing failure due to neglect could tarnish the company’s reputation.
While some road cars need periodic maintenance for their rear wings, complete replacement is rare. Vehicles with active rear spoilers, like the 997 Porsche 911, often require attention to ensure proper functionality. The 997 series of the Porsche 911 necessitates cleaning and lubrication of the rear wing actuator for long-term performance. The Valkyrie, with its active aerodynamics, would have similar maintenance demands, albeit without the need for full wing replacements.
Considering the Valkyrie’s racing lineage and scarcity, Aston Martin could have justified the 25,000-mile wing replacement interval. Given that this hypercar is exclusive, it remains uncertain how many Valkyries will even reach that mileage milestone. Regardless, owners can appreciate the company’s decision to eliminate this concern from their service checklist.
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