Latest news with #LaSarthe
Top Gear
a day ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
You could own* this Le Mans-spec Aston Martin Valkyrie LM
Motorsport *Euromillions win likely required. How better to spend it than on a Le Mans special? Skip 13 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Anyone else spotting a trend? First we had the track-only Ferrari 499P Modificata, then the road-going Glickenhaus 007s, and just last week the (sort of) road-going Porsche 963. And now this : the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM. No prizes for guessing what the initials stand for. Launched to celebrate Aston's tilt at Le Mans glory this weekend – its first since the DBR1 conquered La Sarthe in 1959 – the Hypercar-derivative bandwagon has come full circle, because the LM is a track-only plaything. Only 10 will be built. Advertisement - Page continues below Like the AMR Pro, the LM goes without the, er, standard Valkryie's hybrid system and makes do with that piffling 6.5-litre Cosworth V12. Except the aim is to make it 'fully accessible to amateur drivers', so Aston's stuck with the regulation 697bhp and not the full 1,001bhp we know that engine's capable of. Yep, it's a My First Valkyrie… In fact, the goal is to change as little as possible from the homologated Hypercar without giving you a back door into the Le Mans 24hr itself. So ballast and FIA-mandated electronics have been thrown out, and a 'user-friendly' open-loop torque control system replaces the competition-style closed-loop sensors. You might like Meanwhile the V12 has been recalibrated for fuel you can actually get hold of, and… erm, that's about it. Like the racecar you still get a seven-speed sequential transmission with semi-automatic paddleshift, and the suspension remains insanely complex: double wishbones front and back, plus pushrod actuated torsion bars with adjustable side and central dampers. Aston says the setup has been optimised for track day driving, and it's fitted bespoke performance boots from F1 shoemaker Pirelli. Advertisement - Page continues below Ah, the cockpit's been tweaked actually; for better safety, access and visibility, says Aston, and all customers get their own custom carbonfibre race seat featuring an FIA-grade six-point harness. Just as well you won't be dealing with toll booths in this. The steering wheel integrates shift lights and a driver's display. Doubt it'll run Apple CarPlay, that. Those 10 lucky owners have the option of taking full possession of the LM themselves, or you can let Aston look after the car and enrol in a tailored development programme complete with driver coaching, simulator sessions and classroom prep to get the most out of your (likely very expensive) machine. Aston will even supply you with a helmet, HANS device, overalls, gloves and racing boots, moulded earpieces (because V12) and… fireproof undies. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. 'In all its forms, there is nothing on Earth that compares to Valkyrie,' says Aston CEO Adrian Hallmark. 'The Le Mans contender is unique amongst its peers, not least the breathtaking 6.5-litre V12 engine that provides the beating heart for the only competitive hypercar bred from a road car. 'Valkyrie LM is an exquisite opportunity to be part of the most exclusive Aston Martin owners club in the world; a group who can immerse themselves in the purest and most comparable endurance driving experience, one that would otherwise only be available to our works drivers operating at the very limit of sportscar racing's highest echelon. The LM will be ready to play with in the second quarter of 2026. Who knows, if Lance Stroll's wrists are still playing up and Aston's reserve drivers are pulled away from Le Mans at the last minute, you might just earn yourself a call-up…
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari and Toyota are Le Mans favorites – but what about Porsche?
Last year, Porsche arrived at Le Mans as one of the favourites, riding the momentum of a strong start to its WEC campaign. But when it came down to it, the real fight was between Ferrari and Toyota. In 2025, the German manufacturer comes to La Sarthe in a very different situation, after a quiet opening trio of races. What Porsche needs to lean on, if it's to chase what would be a record-extending 20th Le Mans win, is exactly what made it strong in last year's championship run. Advertisement 'Our strengths are consistency and reliability. We didn't have any reliability issues last year during the whole season, and not at Le Mans either, so I think that's a big asset,' explains Kevin Estre. 'We had a lot of problems in year one, but last season was great in terms of reliability. We didn't have any trouble, and the team almost won every race in IMSA, in the U.S.' 'We've shown we have the ability, the talent to win big races, to win championships. I think we ran a great race last year at Le Mans - we were just missing a bit of outright performance.' 'There's strong competition, like we've seen over the last three years, but I feel like this year it's even tighter. 'The newcomers from last year are still learning and improving. You look at the start of the season for BMW, Alpine, and even Peugeot showing up here and there, plus Cadillac arriving with four cars. I think it's going to be a real battle on track.' Porsche remains Porsche #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 Rainier Ehrhardt Rainier Ehrhardt Advertisement With its know-how, experience, and an LMDh prototype that delivered a drivers' title last year, would you count Porsche out? The former winners remain a solid bet for victory, especially when you factor in a Balance of Performance (BoP) unique to the Le Mans circuit, which could very well shake things up. That's what Kevin Estre, who shares the No. 6 car with Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell, is banking on. 'You always have to count on Ferrari and Toyota, that's a given,' the French driver admits. 'Cadillac always has great top speed, they've never quite put it all together, but they're strong. Jota's a great team at Le Mans, we know that. Alpine has had a really solid start to the year, and Peugeot could be in the mix…' 'It's hard to rank the pecking order. I think Ferrari and Toyota are probably still the favourites, and maybe us. They're proven contenders at Le Mans, they've shown it time and again. It's tough to say, but I hope we've improved our package a bit and that we've got the performance needed to fight for the win.' Kevin Estre, Porsche Motorsport Kevin Estre, Porsche Motorsport Rainier Ehrhardt Rainier Ehrhardt Advertisement As Estre rightly points out, the start of the championship almost becomes irrelevant when it comes to Le Mans: 'It's a completely different track compared to the rest: we reach top speeds that are 30 to 40 km/h higher than on other circuits in the championship.' 'There's a new BoP, the track characteristics are different, so it reshuffles the deck. We'll see if we can be as strong as last year over a single lap, and a bit better in the long stints during the race.' 'We've got a new driver with Matt replacing Andre [Lotterer], but the same engineers, the same mechanics — there's no reason why it shouldn't work. We know how to win races, we know how to win championships — we just need to find the performance.' To read more articles visit our website.
