Aston Martin is set to make a spectacular return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 2025. The renowned British racing team, in collaboration with the works team Heart of Racing, will compete in the Hypercar class with two Valkyrie AMR-LMH racers.
A Historic Comeback
Before the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024 race, Aston Martin announced its return to this prestigious motorsport event, confirming their participation from 2025 in the Hypercar class. The Valkyrie AMR-LMH marks Aston Martin’s first entry into this category, promising to bring fierce competition to the forefront of international sports car racing.
“You can trace the roots of Aston Martin’s endurance racing back to the earliest days of the brand. Indeed, we first raced at Le Mans more than 95 years ago – something no other road-going-hypercar manufacturer can say. 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,” said Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin.
The Valkyrie AMR-LMH
The race-optimized Valkyries will feature a modified version of the production model’s Cosworth-built 6.5-liter, naturally aspirated V12 engine. While the standard Valkyrie produces 745 kW, the powertrain for the AMR-LMH will be “enhanced” to meet the demands of endurance racing. This enhancement will make the Valkyrie AMR-LMH a formidable contender on the track.
Team Heart of Racing
Heart of Racing Team Principal Ian James expressed enthusiasm about the new direction and the upcoming challenges in the WEC Hypercar class.
“With this new direction of the WEC ruleset we have had to bring forward our plans to run multiple cars in the WEC Hypercar class. This has obviously condensed our build-up process, but we are very excited about the prospect of having two cars in the field. We will be proud to be a part of this class, which has seen a meteoric rise in the past couple of years, and offers amazing racing and fan interaction. The challenge ahead is immense, and we are looking forward to the journey.”
Looking Forward to 2025
Aston Martin’s return to Le Mans is a nod to their rich history and a bold step into the future of endurance racing. The commitment to fielding two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars demonstrates their determination to compete at the highest level and their readiness to take on the world’s best sports car manufacturers.
With a significant amount of development already underway, Aston Martin aims to ensure that their hypercars will be at the front of the pack. The 2025 Le Mans race will not only be a test of their engineering prowess but also a celebration of their legacy and future in motorsport.
Aston Martin’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Valkyrie AMR-LMH is set to be a thrilling chapter in the marque’s storied racing history, promising excitement and fierce competition in the Hypercar class.
