Aston Martin Returns to Le Mans
Aston Martin, in partnership with Heart of Racing, is set to enter two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This move follows new FIA/Automobile Club de l’Ouest regulations, which require a minimum of two-car entries for each manufacturer in the top WEC class from 2025.
Testing of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH is ongoing, with its track debut approaching. Aston Martin and Heart of Racing remain committed to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the Valkyrie AMR-LMH debut in 2025.
Return to Le Mans
On Friday, 14 June 2024, in Le Mans, France, Aston Martin and works team Heart of Racing announced their return to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars in 2025. This marks Aston Martin’s bid to win the iconic race outright for the first time since 1959.
Aston Martin plans to field two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars in all rounds of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, pending entry acceptance. This follows a regulation change announced by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, mandating that each participating manufacturer must enter at least two cars in the Hypercar class from 2025 onwards.
Aston Martin and Heart of Racing fully support this regulation change, aiming to enhance the sporting environment. Aston Martin will continue to collaborate closely with both organisations throughout the Valkyrie AMR-LMH programme.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, stated, “Aston Martin’s endurance racing roots trace back over 95 years, a legacy unmatched by any other road-going hypercar manufacturer. We are committed to WEC’s hypercar concept and bringing our iconic Wings back to the forefront of international sportscar racing. In 2025, with our works team Heart of Racing, we intend to field two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars, competing alongside the world’s best sportscar manufacturers. We are focused on ensuring we can fight at the front. The Valkyrie AMR-LMH programme is on schedule, with significant development ongoing ahead of the car’s track debut this summer and an intensive testing period planned before its homologation in the autumn.”
Technical Advancements
The race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis Valkyrie AMR-LMH features a modified version of the Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, which in standard form revs to 11,000rpm and develops over 1000bhp. This engine is being enhanced to meet the Balance of Performance requirements of the Hypercar class and withstand the demands of top-level long-distance competition. Unlike the road-specification Valkyrie, the race car does not include the battery-electric hybrid system.
Development of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH is well advanced, with recent on-track evaluations at Aston Martin’s Silverstone testing facility and the Portimao circuit in Portugal.
Heart of Racing has also established a UK team headquarters for its WEC programme, near where the racing cars are constructed in cooperation with Aston Martin Performance Technologies, based at Silverstone. This entity oversees the design and development of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Aston Martin and Heart of Racing also plan to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the Valkyrie AMR-LMH, entering the US-based endurance series’ GTP class. This programme will be based out of Heart of Racing’s Phoenix headquarters in North America.
Ian James, Heart of Racing Team Principal, commented, “With the new WEC ruleset, we have accelerated our plans to run multiple cars in the Hypercar class. Although this has condensed our build-up process, we are excited about fielding two cars. The class has seen significant growth, offering amazing racing and fan interaction. The challenge ahead is immense, and we look forward to the journey.”
Aston Martin’s Endurance Racing Legacy
Aston Martin’s entry into the Hypercar class ensures the British ultra-luxury sportscar manufacturer’s presence at all levels of endurance racing, from gentleman racers to the pinnacle of the sport. From 2025, Aston Martin will be the only manufacturer competing in all levels of sportscar and GT racing (from Hypercar to GT4) and the FIA Formula 1® World Championship.
Over 240 drivers have raced Aston Martins at Le Mans in the past 95 years, using 27 different chassis and engine combinations. No other venue has provided Aston Martin with as much success, firmly embedding competition into its DNA.
About Aston Martin Lagonda
Aston Martin aims to be the world’s most desirable ultra-luxury British brand, creating exquisitely addictive performance cars. Founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin is renowned globally for style, luxury, performance, and exclusivity. The brand blends the latest technology with time-honoured craftsmanship to produce a range of critically acclaimed luxury models, including the Vantage, DB12, DBS, DBX, and its first hypercar, the Valkyrie. Aligned with its Racing. Green. sustainability strategy, Aston Martin is developing alternatives to internal combustion engines, aiming to launch its first electric performance cars in 2025.
Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates, and exports cars sold in 56 countries worldwide. Its sports cars are manufactured in Gaydon, while the DBX SUV range is proudly made in St Athan, Wales. The company is on track to achieve net-zero manufacturing facilities by 2030.
Lagonda was founded in 1899, and Aston Martin in 1913. The two brands united in 1947 when both were acquired by Sir David Brown. Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc is now listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 2020, Lawrence Stroll became the company’s Executive Chairman, leading to significant new investment and Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of motorsport with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team, marking a new era for the iconic British marque.