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Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aston Martin Valkyrie Gears Up for Historic Sebring Debut
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Aston Martin's Valkyrie hypercar is set to make its highly anticipated North American racing debut this weekend at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, ushering the British automaker back into top-tier U.S. endurance competition for the first time in over a decade. The competition-spec Valkyrie, developed in partnership with the Aston Martin THOR team, is the first Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) to race in IMSA's premier GTP category. It also holds the distinction of being the only LMH entry competing in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA, following its global racing debut in Qatar last month. Powered by a race-modified 6.5-liter V12 engine producing 680 horsepower under hypercar regulations, the Valkyrie blends cutting-edge aerodynamics with the aggressive engineering of its road-going counterpart. The hypercar's entry into IMSA competition signals Aston Martin's intent to compete at the highest level of endurance racing. Veteran drivers Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn, both with experience in IMSA GT categories, will pilot the Valkyrie for the full season. They are joined at Sebring by Alex Riberas, a seasoned competitor in endurance racing and a WEC Valkyrie driver. Their collective expertise will be tested on Sebring's notoriously rough, 3.74-mile circuit. Sebring's grueling 12-hour format is expected to push the Valkyrie to its limits as Aston Martin refines its hypercar program. With a striking blue livery and the unmistakable roar of its V12 engine, the Valkyrie is set to captivate racing fans and reinforce Aston Martin's legacy in endurance motorsport. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
NBC Sports
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
A beautiful noise as Aston Martin's V12 Valkyrie Hypercar races in IMSA at Sebring for first time
No matter the results at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Aston Martin's new Valkyrie is guaranteed to generate some noise in its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar championship debut. That's an easy assertion to make when a V12 naturally aspirated engine is racing against 12 hybrid-powered cars in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) category. When Aston Martin rolled out the Valkyrie for the first time two weeks ago in the World Endurance Championship at Qatar, driver Ross Gunn said the engine's throaty roar was 'the main puller' for fans drawn to the British luxury automaker's foray into the top level of sports car racing. 'Having the V12 is incredibly special, and I didn't really appreciate it enough before Qatar just how awesome it was,' Gunn said during an IMSA videoconference last week. 'Having it ring around Qatar, which is a relatively open track so the noise can go anywhere, it still sounded absolutely incredible. I'm super excited to be driving in front of a full house (at Sebring), and I just can't wait to see the reaction of the fans, which I think is going to be incredible. Nate Ryan, 'We are very early in our development phase, and Sebring is such a difficult circuit. I think the key is just to remain realistic. We have a new fan favorite car. The V12 engine sounds incredible, and everybody's going to love it, but we have to be realistic that we are step by step trying to get closer to the competition. Setting our expectations low to start is definitely the smartest thing.' Beyond just the distinct sound of its powerplant, Aston Martin's Sebring appearance will be notable as the first time that a Le Mans Hypercar (known as LMH, the featured prototype platform in the WEC Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans) will race in GTP against the LMDh prototype platform that is featured in IMSA's premier category. It's an important step in the vision for the Grand Touring Prototype category, which was rebranded and reintroduced in 2023 with hybrid technology and rule specs that allowed for crossover between the U.S-based IMSA and European-based WEC series. While manufacturers such as Porsche and Cadillac have brought their LMDh cars to the WEC and at Le Mans, Aston Martin will mark the trend finally going in the other direction with a Hypercar racing in IMSA GTP. Sebring's GTP field will set records for total cars (13 of the 56 on the grid) and manufacturers (six as Aston Martin joins Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini and Porsche). 'It'll be great; it's going to bring a lot of different eyes, especially with the sound of that car,' said four-time IMSA champion Jordan Taylor, who co-drives the No. 40 Cadillac for Wayne Taylor Racing. ' I think it's going to be a fan favorite just from the sound of it. It's going to be interesting to see how it fits in. It's a much different build of a car. 'It's tough for them to debut at one of the toughest tracks. One of their cars had a pretty good Qatar reliability- wise, but Sebring is going to be a whole other animal. At Qatar, Aston Martin finished in the last two spots of the Hypercar category but scored a moral victory with its No. 009 Valkyrie finishing the race (albeit 23 laps down; its other car, which included Gunn behind the wheel, finished 137 laps down after being retired). The challenge will be stiffer at Sebring's legendary 17-turn, 3.74-mile layout. Gunn, who will co-drive the No. 23 Valkyrie with Roman De Angelis, and Alex Riberas, said The Heart of Racing team (a perennial championship contender in IMSA GT categories that is stepping up to GTP) has 'no illusions' about the difficulty of tackling the notoriously bumpy asphalt of Sebring. #23: ASTON MARTIN THOR Team, Aston Martin Valkyrie, GTP: Ross Gunn, Roman De Angelis, Alex Riberas The Heart of Racing's No. 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie tests at Sebring International Raceway last month. The car will be shared by Ross Gunn, Roman De Angelis and Alex Riberas in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (IMSA/Michael L. Levitt/LAT Images). 'To be honest, the priority is to finish, that's the main No. 1 goal,' Gunn said. 'We're kind of in the deep end, being years behind everybody else, but we like challenges. We had a successful last few years in the GT classes. 'We have to be realistic. We're not ready to be competing with the top guys in the class. That takes time. We have massive respect for our competitors. It's definitely something that I don't say lightly, but we're up against some of the best teams, manufacturers and drivers in the world. And that's a huge challenge. And we are starting from two years behind these guys, and we need to work incredibly hard to get to that level. This year is really going to be a big learning year for us. 'There's so many things (at Sebring) with the severity of the bumps, the curbs and the temperature as well. Basically, every component in the car is put under extreme pressure to get to the end.' Aston Martin likely will be the latest in a long list of famous manufacturers that have struggled during their first season in IMSA's premier division. The dawn of the new GTP era two years ago brought the re-entry of BMW and Porsche to the top prototype class, and both battled issues with durability and pace throughout the 2023 season. Gunn said there were few takeaways from those struggles for Aston Martin. 'Their packages are very different to ours,' he said. 'Of course, there's lots of things for a while that we've been picking up, watching how certain people prepare (for) qualifying, out laps and restarts. These are things that we've been picking up throughout the years anyway, just being on the grid and showing an interest as a bit of a fan. 'But our package is very different to theirs in the sense that every car is very unique, so there's not that much of 'Oh, they did that in 2023.' We're kind of just more focusing on our own package and we'll take it from there.' Going to work👊#AstonMartin #ValkyrieHypercar #Qatar1812km Despite a lack of similarities with the LMDh competition, the Valkyrie already is drawing a lot of curiosity. Porsche Penske Motorsport also competes in the WEC and had a pit stall alongside Aston Martin at Qatar. 'We kind of got an up-close look at the operation there,' Porsche Penske Motorsport managing director Jonathan Diuguid said. 'Obviously, they're supported by our manufacturer partner Multimatic and looked like they had most of the stuff under control or more under control than I would have thought for their first race. 'I think they're learning that the LMDh and GTP and Hypercar field right now is extremely competitive, and I would be shocked if anybody could show up for their first event and compete for overall wins with the quality of the teams and the drivers and the cars that we have now. So it's tough for me to say where they are in the development program. The one thing I can say is it's a testament to the regulations because it's a V12 naturally aspirated car that sounds great and looks quite different and so to have another manufacturer competing at that level is only a benefit for everyone.' Team Penske drivers Laurens Vanthooer, Felipe Nasr, and Nick Tandy with their Rolex watches in Victory Lane with Daytona Speedway President Frank Kelleher, Sunday January 26, 2025 after winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Laurens Vanthoor (left), Felipe Nasr (middle) and Nick Tandy celebrate their Rolex 24 at Daytona victory (David TuckerNews-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images). Despite turning countless laps over thousands of miles in testing, both of Porsche Penske Motorsport's 963s finished outside the top 10 in its 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona debut. But the team quickly got acclimated and has consecutive Rolex 24 victories as well as last year's GTP championship. No. 6 Porsche 963 driver Mathieu Jaminet expects Aston Martin 'to be a contender at some point late in the season or early next year.' Teammate Nick Tandy, who is part of this year's No. 7 963 that won the Rolex 24, said GTP is tough because 'you're not racing against idiots and poor teams. 'These are top-level operations,' Tandy said. 'Not saying the Aston Martin team isn't, of course. They've got a huge background in motorsport generally. And the people involved in the operation know what they're doing in IMSA, as well as WEC. So yeah, it's not easy. This is the thing; Everything has to be perfect. And with the GTP and the Hypercar technology, there is a lot of development to make all the parts of the car work together even if you're not running the hybrid system, 'As a fan of the sport, it's great and I'll be interested to watch (Aston Martin's) progression.' Pitting a V12 engine against hybrids is an intriguing matchup of fuel efficiency and electronic systems. Using a formula known as Balance of Performance, IMSA uses regulations to try to keep its cars even. For the BOP at Sebring, the Valkyrie's V12 engine has been reduced by 15 horsepower while also receiving a break on minimum weight. Though using the V12 on track, Aston Martin will have an electrical motor to help its launch in exiting pit stops (the hybrid cars exclusively use battery power in the pits). 'The key is that obviously we all race to a BOP and I think it's clear that IMSA have done a great job with that in terms of leveling the playing field in the past few years,' Gunn said. 'Obviously, in the top class, it's going to be a new thing, having a normally aspirated car with the hybrids. There are obviously a few differences in the way that they produce performance and the way that they provide performance. I think the key for us is that having normally aspirated maybe simplified things quite a lot, so there's less things to change, less variables. So I think from that side, it's definitely easier. History starts here.#AstonMartin #ValkyrieHypercar #WEC 'I see a lot of people write that having the hybrid is going to be a massive advantage. And for sure there's differences in the sense that we have to run a little bit more fuel, but the differences are actually quite simple in that regard. So I'm actually very curious to see how it all plays out.' The competition also seems satisfied that there will be no overwhelming competitive advantages for either side. 'The way motorsports is today, the advantages you have will be BOP-ed, and any disadvantage will be BOP-ed to kind of make it as even as possible,' Taylor said. 'So there's advantages you can have with fuel efficiency or temperatures with the way the brake systems work, the way traction controls intervening with different types of engines. With the way our sport is now, if you're half a second off the pace, you're going to get some more power or less weight and vice versa.' As the sun sets at Sebring International Raceway last month, the No. 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie turns a lap in testing (IMSA/Michael L. Levitt/LAT Images). Said Diuguid: 'It's up to the series and the sanctioned bodies to make sure we're all competing on equal footing. And we have all the trust in those groups and they've done a good job so far. So looking for a competitive weekend for any engine architecture, whether it's our turbo V8 hybrid or a naturally aspirated V12. I think that's the beauty of sports car racing right now, and the regulations permit any kind of powertrain architecture to compete.' But any real discussions will wait until Aston Martin is competitive. At Sebring, the team will be making headlines solely with the sound of its V12 and not the results. 'So yeah, our aim is to try and bring the noise to Sebring, try and gain as much mileage as we can because that is really essential to the program at the moment, trying to get as much information about the car,' Gunn said. 'There's things that we're learning every time we turn a wheel. We're all still very inexperienced with this class, but every time we get in the car it's essential for us because we're getting more and more confident, more and more comfortable.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
V12 Valkyrie Will Catch Eyes, Ears at IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring
The Valkyrie is the first car built to the LMH rules of Hypercar to race in GTP. Entering just its second race following the opening round of the World Endurance Championship in Qatar on Feb. 28. The Aston Martin THOR Team's primary goal is to finish the 12 hours at Sebring. The reputation for making a beautiful noise from its V12 engine precedes the sleek Aston Martin Valkyrie's entry at the Mobile 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. 'The engine sounds absolutely incredible,' said Ross Gunn, one of three former GT drivers stepping into the new prototype for Aston Martin. Driving the very loud and compact car in front of the throng at Sebring, he acknowledged, is likely to turn some heads. The engine's potency has already caught the attention of IMSA officials, who docked the Valkyrie by nearly 15 horsepower in the new Balance of Performance released after testing at the central Florida track. Just by cranking the 6.5-liter V12 and racing in the GTP category of IMSA's WeatherTech Championship, the Aston Martin will be scoring firsts. The Valkyrie is the first car built to the LMH rules of Hypercar to race in GTP and will be a lone normally aspirated wolf among the LMDh prototypes of IMSA. Entering just its second race following the opening round of the World Endurance Championship in Qatar, the Aston Martin THOR Team's primary goal is to finish the 12 hours around the uneven surfaces of Sebring's ancient concrete and asphalt, considered a tougher day-night challenge than most 24-hour events. The stated goal for drivers Gunn, Alex Riberas and Roman De Angelis is to be chasing victories by the end of the season. The development curve will benefit from the car's distinction, said Gunn. 'Having a normally aspirated car racing with the hybrids, there are obviously a few differences in the way that they produce performance and the way that they provide performance. I think the key for us is that having normally aspirated car simplifies things quite a lot. There's less things to change. There's less variables. So, I think from that side, it's definitely easier." Starting two years behind the other LMH cars and IMSA's LMDh entries is a challenge. But the officials at the WEC and in IMSA have indicated they will help keep new entrants competitive with BoP. The reduction of 15 horsepower for the Valkyrie at Sebring might be overkill by officials not familiar enough with the new car's performance. But it could also be seen as part of an across-the-board effort to keep speeds in check for all entrants on the treacherous, high-speed 3.74-mile circuit. IMSA also announced power cuts to prototypes that included a 12-horsepower reduction for the Porsche 963 and eight horsepower for the BMW M Hybrid V8 and Cadillac V-Series.R. 'Obviously in the top class it's going to be a new thing (with the Valkyrie),' said Gunn. Jordan Taylor, who has driven the Acura ARX-06 for Wayne Taylor Racing and currently drives one of the team's Cadillac V-Series.R entries, expects BOP to keep the Valkyrie competitive. 'If you're a half a second faster, you get BoP-ed,' he said. 'If you're a half a second slower, you get BoP-ed. That's just the way it is in sports car racing.' Although the hybrids are expected to get better fuel mileage, Jordan said the Valkyrie may have an advantage under braking against the LMDh entries, which have regenerative systems at the rear wheels. 'Obviously there are advantages you can have with fuel efficiencies and there are advantages setting up the way the braking works for tire temps, the way traction control is intervening with different types of engines.' The Valkyrie will not burst into full song when coming out of its pit stall. Similarly to the hybrids, it launches under power from an electric motor and battery before the clutch is dropped once the car hits 10 mph. Long recognized as an extraordinary prototype, the Valkyrie began life as a road going hybrid that doubled as a track day car. It survived after a divorce between parents Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, where the latter's Adrian Newey designed a hybrid carrying more than 1,100 horsepower. With its eye on Le Mans, Aston Martin initially committed to the Hypercar class and its LMH rules. But when convergence was announced in 2021, the company, under new chairman Lawrence Stroll, decided not to enter the hybrid against the LMDh cars that were incorporated into the entry at Le Mans and the WEC. With its eye still on returning to the high-water mark of the Aston Martin DBR1's victory at Le Mans in 1959, Aston Martin now believes its new, less complicated approach will pay dividends. The AMR-LMH fans will see at Sebring follows the Valkyrie Pro, a normally aspirated track day only version of Newey's original compact aerodynamic layout. The THOR team includes a mixture of experienced personnel from Aston Martin's UK operations, Canadian builder Multimatic and The Heart of Racing, based in Seattle. Jonathan Diuguid, who directs the Porsche Penske Motorsport team, said he was impressed by the THOR team's execution at its first race in Qatar, where one of the two Valkyries finished the race's 10 hours. 'It's tough for me to say where they are in the development program,' said Diuguid. 'It's a testament to the regulations because it's a V12 naturally aspirated car that sounds great and looks quite different. And to have another manufacturer on track competing at the level they're going to compete at is only a benefit for everyone. 'We're looking for a competitive weekend for any engine architecture,' continued Diuguid, 'Whether it's our turbo v8 hybrid or a naturally aspirated V12. I think that's the beauty of sports car racing right now. The regulations permit any kind of powertrain architecture to compete.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Aston Martin Shows Final Livery for Valkyrie LMH
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Aston Martin is preparing to make a major splash in motorsport as it readies the Valkyrie hypercar for its dual-racing debut in the 2025 season. The automaker has unveiled the final livery designs for its LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) variant of the Valkyrie, which will compete in both the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. These stunning liveries were revealed just ahead of the upcoming racing season, with two distinct designs for each series. The WEC Valkyrie will be draped in a classic British Racing Green, complete with the iconic #007 number, a playful nod to Aston Martin's long-standing connection with the fictional British secret agent, James Bond. The sister car, marked #009, will also compete in the series, continuing Aston's legacy at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. Meanwhile, the IMSA series Valkyrie will sport a darker shade of blue, accompanied by the #23 number. The IMSA contender will be piloted by Ross Gunn and Roman de Angelis, while the WEC team will feature drivers Marco Sorenson, Tom Gamble, Alex Riberas, and Harry Tinknell. The Valkyrie LMH shares much of its DNA with the road-going version, but it has been specifically modified for the demands of endurance racing. The front end is fitted with a larger splitter, and a massive rear wing is added to generate the necessary downforce for high-speed stability. Notably, the LMH model forgoes the hybrid system found in the road version and instead uses a naturally aspirated V12 engine. This engine has been re-engineered to run leaner while ensuring reliability throughout the grueling endurance races. Aston Martin's CEO, Adrian Hallmark, expressed the significance of the company's return to top-tier motorsport. "To be returning to the fight for overall honours at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a proud moment for Aston Martin. The Valkyrie is an embodiment of our enduring sporting ethos, and it marks a key milestone in our racing heritage." The company's ambitious dual-program season, with the Valkyrie competing in both WEC and IMSA, reflects Aston Martin's commitment to excellence and competition. The team is ready to face high-level competition, acknowledging the challenge but driven by the desire to win. As Hallmark stated, "It's a great time to be joining the pinnacle of sports car racing." Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
