The Aston Martin Valkyrie LM Is a Track-Day Special Plucked Straight from Le Mans
The Valkyrie LM features a 697-hp naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12, free of the hybrid system found in the road-legal car.
Only 10 will be built, and Aston Martin will also offer a driver training program that involves simulator time, data and onboard camera analysis, and a set of track-day gear.
At the upper echelons of motorsport, the connections between race cars and their on-road counterparts are tenuous at best. Ten different brands have prototype racers competing in the top classes of the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and of those, just one is based on a road-going hypercar: the Aston Martin Valkyrie. To celebrate the Valkyrie's unique position, Aston Martin revealed the Valkyrie LM, a track-ready limited edition that is essentially identical to the race car that will appear on track at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next weekend.
Aston Martiin
This is a special occasion for Aston Martin, as it's the first time the automaker will be vying for the overall win at Le Mans since 2011. If they are successful, it will be Aston Martin's first overall victory since 1959 when Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori took first in the Aston Martin DBR1.
Aston Martin says the LM that it will sell to customers is virtually identical to the cars piloted by its drivers in WEC and IMSA racing, except for a few adjustments aimed at making the cars more accessible to their (likely) amateur owners. Aston Martin ditched certain racing-specific equipment, like ballasts and FIA-required electronics, while tailoring the cockpit to track-day use. Aston Martin also tweaked the engine to run on more accessible fuels, while also removing torque sensors that manage power delivery, all in the name of improving the experience for the customer.
Aston Martiin
The Valkyrie LM gets its motivation from a modified version of Cosworth's naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine. While the engine produces 1001 hp in the road car and is hooked up to a hybrid powertrain for a total of 1139 hp, the LM's V-12 is free of electrical assistance and is tuned to 697 horsepower as required by racing regulations. While that's notably less power than the road-going Valkyrie, the LM's missing hybrid hardware will drop the curb weight considerably.
Aston Martin
The LM's V-12 hooks up to the rear wheels through a seven-speed sequential transmission operated via paddle shifters, just like the race car. The suspension also mirrors that of the competition car, with unequal-length control arms at the front and rear and pushrod-actuated torsion bar springs with adjustable side and central dampers. The Valkyrie LM will run on special Pirelli performance tires.
Inside, the driver sits snug in a custom carbon-fiber race seat with headrest padding and a six-point FIA safety harness. There's also a built-in fire suppression system, and the steering wheel features a display screen and shift lights.
Aston Martin
While Valkyrie LM owners will be able to keep their car wherever they want it, Aston Martin will also offer a special driver development program to support the driver for track days with a team of engineers. Aston Martin will store and transport the car for its customers, and they will also provide simulator driver coaching sessions, detailed track walks, and classroom sessions before hitting the track. The engineers will provide data and onboard video analysis to help the owners improve their driving. The program offers the chance to get a full track-day kit as well, bestowing these lucky owners with a helmet, suit, boots, HANS device, earpieces, gloves, and fireproof underwear.
Customers will take delivery of their Valkyrie LM in the second quarter of 2026 and will have a chance to drive the car at two fully supported track days at F1-grade circuits later in the year. Only 10 will be built, and while Aston Martin didn't reveal the cost, we have to imagine the cost of entry is at least a few million dollars.
Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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