Aston Martin’s upcoming participation in Le Mans is generating excitement, especially with the details of their plans. The British car manufacturer announced this week that they intend to enter two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars in every race of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
In a collaborative announcement, the FIA and the Le Mans organizing body, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), stated that starting next year, all manufacturers must have at least two cars in the Hypercar class. While Aston Martin has confirmed two cars for the competition, they still need to secure official entries.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, stated, “The Valkyrie AMR-LMH program is on schedule, with significant development occurring behind the scenes ahead of the car’s track debut later this summer. We are committed to ensuring that we can compete at the front of the grid.”
Aston Martin has a long history with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, having first participated over 95 years ago and winning as recently as 2020 in the LM GTE Pro and Am categories with the Vantage AMRs. However, the last time Aston Martin clinched the overall victory was back in 1959, when legendary racers Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori drove the team to triumph.
For their 2025 return, Aston Martin, along with their works partner Heart of Racing, will deploy race-prepared Valkyrie AMR-LMHs, which will feature a modified version of the V12 engine developed by Cosworth. This engine, which powers the road version, produces over 1,000 horsepower and can rev up to 11,000 rpm. Adjustments will be made to comply with the Balance of Performance rules and regulations, including the removal of the battery-electric hybrid system used in the road car, similar to the Valkyrie AMR Pro racing models.
Aston Martin and Heart of Racing also plan to enter the Valkyrie AMR-LMH in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, competing in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, providing American endurance racing fans a chance to see the vehicle in action..
