Le Mans, France: Aston Martin and its factory team, Heart of Racing, are gearing up for a triumphant return to the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025, announcing their entry with two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars. This marks Aston Martin’s ambitious bid to clinch an overall victory at Le Mans for the first time since 1959.
The decision follows a pivotal regulation adjustment by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), mandating manufacturers to field a minimum of two cars in the Hypercar class starting from 2025. Aston Martin plans to compete in all rounds of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), pending formal approval of their entry.
Adam Carter, Head of Endurance Motorsport at Aston Martin, expressed enthusiasm for the new regulations, emphasizing Aston Martin’s enduring legacy in endurance racing dating back over 95 years. “We are committed to the WEC hypercar concept,” Carter affirmed, “and to restoring Aston Martin’s iconic Wings to the forefront of international sportscar racing, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
Development of the race-oriented Valkyrie AMR-LMH is progressing briskly, with rigorous testing underway at Aston Martin’s facilities in Silverstone and Portugal’s Portimao circuit. The car will be powered by a modified Cosworth-built 6.5-liter V12 engine, calibrated to meet the stringent Balance of Performance criteria of the Hypercar class.
Furthermore, Aston Martin and Heart of Racing are establishing a dedicated UK headquarters near Silverstone, where the Valkyrie AMR-LMH cars are being meticulously crafted in collaboration with Aston Martin Performance Technologies. This facility will oversee the thorough design and development of the hypercars, ensuring they are primed for the challenges of elite endurance competition.
In addition to their WEC campaign, Aston Martin and Heart of Racing are laying groundwork for an IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Programme, targeting the GTP class in the US-based endurance series. Operations will be headquartered at Heart of Racing’s facilities in Phoenix, further underscoring their global commitment to top-tier sportscar racing.
The forthcoming debut of the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH promises to be a landmark event in motorsport, as the storied marque aims to write a new chapter of success at Le Mans and beyond.
