Aston Martin has announced it will enter two hypercars in next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship.
The British marque will return to the top level of endurance racing next season with its new Valkyrie LMH car in conjunction with the Heart of Racing, which has entered an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 car in this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hours.Aston Martin have announced that they will enter two of its new hypercars in the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans, adhering to a new regulation for 2025 that compels all manufacturers to run at least two cars in the hypercar class. They will join the likes of Toyota, Ferrari, Peugeot, BMW and Alpine as manufacturers with multiple cars in the series.
The new Valkyrie hypercar will run with a modified version of the Cosworth V12 engine that the road-going Valkyrie. However, it will race without a hybrid system present on many current hypercars.
Aston Martin’s head of endurance motorsport, Adam Carter, says the brand enjoys a heritage at the Le Mans 24 Hours like none of its future competitors.
“We first raced at Le Mans more than 95 years ago – something no other road-going hypercar manufacturer can say,” said Carter. “We are very proud of our association with this wonderful event, and with that in mind, it’s very clear that we are committed to WEC’s hypercar concept and bringing our famous wings back to the very forefront of international sportscar racing, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“In 2025, with our works team the Heart of Racing, we intend to put two Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars on the grid, to compete alongside a fantastic array of the world’s best sportscar manufacturers, and we are doing all we can to ensure that we can fight at the front of that space. The Valkyrie AMR-LMH programme is on schedule with a significant amount of development taking place behind the scenes and ahead of the car’s track debut later this summer. We then anticipate an intensive period of testing to put miles on the car and learn all we can ahead of its planned homologation in the autumn.”
Heart of Racing also intends to race a Valkyrie in future seasons of the IMSA sportcar championship. Aston Martin last competed in the top class at Le Mans in 2011 with two entries for its AMR-One model. Both retired from the race before completing five laps.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
World Endurance Championship
- Lotterer, Estre and Vanthoor clinch WEC drivers’ title, Toyota win constructors’
- Penske Porsche poised to clinch title after winning incident-packed Fuji Six Hours
- Hyundai to launch hypercar racing programme under Genesis brand
- Court of Appeal rejects Ferrari’s challenge to WEC Six Hours of Spa result
- Kubica, Shwartzman and Ye grab first win ahead of charging Toyota at COTA
Nick T.
14th June 2024, 11:04
Are we one step closer to Lawrence hopefully forcing his son out of the car? I’d like to think so, but I know the answer is likely no.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fernando drive in a couple races if they don’t have scheduling conflicts with his F1 duties.
F1statsfan (@f1statsfan)
14th June 2024, 11:13
Alonso, Max and Tsunoda as line up for Le Mans 2025
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
14th June 2024, 12:56
I think I love you…..
Daniel
14th June 2024, 16:12
So with only 40 spaces I wonder if Isotta and Vanwall gets the boot and which LMGT3s are in danger.
Toyota x2
Ferrari x3
BMW x2
Alpine x2
Lamborghini x2
Cadillac x2
Porsche x3/4 (now Jota might be Cadillac)
Peugeot x2
Aston x2
That’s 21 of the supposed 40 spaces.
Isotta wants 2 spaces and so does Vanwall which would be 25 Hypercars leaving 15 for LMGT3
Nick T.
15th June 2024, 0:56
That’d be awesome. The Max and Alonso team up probably lost a bit of steam since Max cock blocked him at RBR though. Prior to that, they were always talking each other up.
BC
14th June 2024, 11:38
Would be a great way for Stroll to leave the stage with dignity, having put in some good drives even if he wasn’t there on merit.
They could then try and sew up Sainz if he takes a year out next year or if he takes a one year deal somewhere, and then Honda pays at least some of Yuki’s wages once Alonso leaves?
Denis (@denis1304)
14th June 2024, 16:29
Once Alonso leaves?
He lives F1, he will be here for years to come, and I like it.
Nick T.
15th June 2024, 0:58
Boom. Even at 50, the dude will likely still be better than 80% of the grid.
Graeme Glazier
14th June 2024, 19:58
Great to hear but I’m afraid that without the hybrid system they will be limping around back hindering the gt3 pack
Doh
17th June 2024, 3:39
I’ll be glad to hear that V12 sing. And I’d imagine they’ll still be somewhat competitive not just with bop but i assume there are differences allowed depending on drivetrain. Eg since they’re non hybrid they may be allowed more power. Either way it’ll be great to have a roaring V12. Shame the 911s have been tamed compared to how they sounded a few years ago