Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH
| Category | Le Mans Hypercar |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Aston Martin AMR-One |
| Technical specifications | |
| Engine | Aston Martin-Cosworth RA 6,499 cc (396.6 cu in) 65° V12 |
| Tyres | Michelin slicks |
| Competition history | |
The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH[1] is an upcoming sports prototype developed by Aston Martin Racing to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship in the Hypercar category and the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the GTP category respectively.[2] The car is a heavily modified racing version fitted to Le Mans Hypercar regulations based on Aston Martin's Valkyrie AMR Pro track car.[3]
History
[edit]Initial plans
[edit]
Aston Martin was one of the first manufacturers to commit to the Le Mans Hypercar class in 2019, with plans to start competition with at least two factory cars in the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship. The car was planned to compete without a hybrid system, despite the road car containing one.[4] Alongside the factory entries, two further cars were planned to be fielded by R-Motorsport.[5]
In February of 2020, Aston Martin announced that they would be cancelling the project, following the decision of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest to allow LMDh vehicles to participate in the Hypercar project. The brand also joined Formula One around this time, meaning they had limited finances to support their Hypercar programme. The manufacturer stated to still be open to joining in the future.[6]
2023 revival
[edit]In October of 2023, Aston Martin officially announced the return of the Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar project. They planned to enter at least one car in both the FIA WEC and the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2025, run by The Heart of Racing. This would make Aston Martin the first Le Mans Hypercar manufacturer to enter the IMSA series, which up to that point only had LMDh cars participate.[7] The car was rolled out on Silverstone in the summer of 2024, ahead of an extensive testing program by Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing, alongside drivers Darren Turner, Harry Tincknell, and Mario Farnbacher.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercar hits the track | Aston Martin". www.astonmartin.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ Dagys, John (2024-06-14). "Heart of Racing Set for Two-Car Valkyrie Hypercar Effort – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Aston Martin returns to Le Mans to fight for overall victory with Valkyrie hypercar". media.astonmartin.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ "Aston Martin To Bring Valkyrie Hypercar To FIA WEC & Le Mans". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ "Hypercar/ DPi 2.0/ Class One & All That". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Aston Martin Has Cancelled Its Valkyrie-Based WEC Entry | News | CarThrottle". www.carthrottle.com. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ "Aston Martin to return to Le Mans 24 Hours in 2025 with Valkyrie LMH". www.autosport.com. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ "Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH Completes First Shakedown Runs". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Euwema, Davey (2024-07-22). "Valkyrie AMR-LMH's First Runs an "Immensely Proud" Moment – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.