Miss the sound of V12s in motorsport? Well, there is some good news since Aston Martin has announced their Valkyrie Hypercar will take to Le Mans from 2025 onwards. Watch and listen here!
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Spoiled for choice between V6 and V8 motors, it has been several years since the racing series has featured a screaming V12. Aston Martin is looking to change that after their announcement that their Valkyrie Hypercar, with its sonorous motor, will take to the racing series. From 2025, a racing prototype version of Aston Martin’s ultimate hypercar; the Valkyrie, will challenge for overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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Additionally, Aston Martin states the Valkyrie Hypercar will challenge other endurance races in the season:
Through the invaluable support and backing of Aston Martin’s championship-winning endurance racing partner Heart of Racing [HoR], at least one Valkyrie racecar will be entered by Aston Martin in the top Hypercar class of each of the FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championships [IMSA] from 2025. This means that the prototype Valkyrie will participate in three of sportscar racing’s most prestigious events; Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Related: Aston Martin unveils its limited-edition, V12-powered Valour!
The Valkyrie AMR Pro was originally designed and developed to meet the LMH hypercar regulations but now Aston Martin Performance Technologies has begun the task of developing a competition prototype version of the model for racing within a pre-defined aerodynamic and power performance window that gives it parity with its direct competition in WEC. It will then be homologated for the WEC Hypercar and IMSA GTP classes ahead of the 2025 season.
As a refresher, the race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis Valkyrie will use a modified version of the sensational Cosworth-built 6,5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, which in standard form revs to 11 000 r/min and develops over 1000 bhp (>745 kW). The power unit will be enhanced further to incorporate the critical Balance of Performance requirements of the Hypercar class, and developed to withstand the rigours of top-level long-distance competition. As with the Valkyrie AMR Pro track-car, the battery-electric hybrid system that features on the road-specification Valkyrie is absent from the race car which aids in weight reduction.
Excited to hear the V12 on top-tier motorsport once more? Watch below.
