Aston Martin Confirms its Valkyrie Hypercar Will Race at Le Mans in 2025

[sangdude82]

I guess Lance Stroll can go racing on either series in 2026...

 

[Pilot625]

PD: "We got you!"
Also PD:
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So true.

 

[Galvston]

huh, it looks rendered by PD, cant shake the feeling

 

[Fezzik]

Looks damn good. Can’t wait to not drive it in GT7.

...Me too

PD: "We got you!"
Also PD:
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PD it's your time...

huh, it looks rendered by PD, cant shake the feeling

If you really want to drive this in a game, or any of the other top-category IMSA/WEC racers, just play Le Mans Ultimate or Forza Motorsport instead.

Anyway, Sebring is likely the next endurance race I can catch so looking forward to seeing and hearing this beast there. Very happy it’s racing in both championships.

 

[Quakebass]

Hypercars have their electric power deployed to the front axle, something that the Valkyrie probably wasn't designed to be able to do.

Hypercar regulations leave entrants free to do whatever they want with the hybrid system - any split of ICE vs EV power, as large or small batteries, and on whatever wheels they want - as long as it’s a single source of power iirc. Most opt for the front deployment because it’s such an obvious and easy traction advantage for corner exit, but some still went for all rear because it’s cheaper.

Why the Valkyrie LMH didn’t go hybrid are mainly for two reasons:

1 - The LMH is based directly on the AMR Pro track special variant of the Valkyrie, which already strips the hybrid system out from factory before it gets modified for racing.

2 - The engine. The base “tame” version of the car has a 6.5L V12, a whole liter larger than the Cadillac, and produces ~1000hp from factory before the hybrid assist. The AMR Pro, which as mentioned is the model the LMH is based on, further tunes this up a ranges from 1150-1300 with no hybrid system. LMH and GTP rules mandate peak output limited to 630hp, just over half of what it would run on the street. HoR and Aston already have crazy work to do to detune the engine to class specs, and still lug 6.5 liters of engine around the track. Adding a hybrid system back to a car specifically designed to be stripped of one is silly, but also further makes the detuning process even harder, requiring even less ICE power output to make the electric relevant, and then further adding weight to the already enormous engine, which is double or more the size of most of it’s competitors.

There is inherent risk with no hybrid system - particularly a limp mode if something breaks, or higher likelihood of a stall on pit exit, and additionally less efficient energy/heavier fuel load. However, what may set this apart from previous non-hybrids is the fact the engine is so detuned, it may be able to utilize a complicated ECU map that basically lets the car run at the class’s power limit through the entire rev range, minimizing the loss of absence of EV tech, and further allowing the chassis and aero to be fully uncompromised with batteries it wasn’t designed to carry.

It’s going to be very interesting to see how it performs and develops - I’m particularly attached to it as the projected was revived, financed, and largely operated by a Seattle-based (my hometown) team, Heart of Racing. I’m going to be cautiously optimistic, but expect middling results this season, as every first-year car has had some sort of struggle when it entered the class. Alpine in particular was noteworthy, which started pretty rough but finished the season running near the front. Porsche as well proved LMDh chassis can develop a lot, becoming a multi-race winning chassis this year after LMDhs seeming to struggle against LMHs initially. Almost every manufacturer is sitting on unused upgrade “jokers” like some sort of engineering Cold War. Very exciting times ahead for endurance racing, I hope the Valkyrie gets to be a frontrunner for part of them.

 

[GlamFM]

PD: "We got you!"
Also PD:
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Dude... this is the most random thing, but I'm 99% convinced this picture was taken on the very street I live on. (What are the odds?)
Did you take it?

 

[jonoholland29]

Very excited to see this! Does this take the LM24h field to 10 Hypercars now?

 

[Fezzik]

Very excited to see this! Does this take the LM24h field to 10 Hypercars now?

Still 8, as Lambo have dropped out (Ferrari, Peugeot, Alpine, Toyota, Porsche, Cadillac, BMW, Aston). Ford coming in a couple of years, hopefully McLaren as well. EDIT - And Genesis of course.

 

[jonoholland29]

Still 8, as Lambo have dropped out (Ferrari, Peugeot, Alpine, Toyota, Porsche, Cadillac, BMW, Aston). Ford coming in a couple of years, hopefully McLaren as well.

Ah yes - that’s a shame. That crazy Lambo from GT7 would look super cool at Le Mans