Aston Martin has celebrated its famous return to the pinnacle of endurance motorsport by revealing today the spectacular Valkyrie LM, a new, ultra-exclusive and non-homologated variant of the only road-derived racing hypercar to bid for overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This exceptional version of the world’s ultimate hypercar represents a historic landmark in the luxury high-performance brand’s sporting history, whose legacy intertwines back to the very roots of the most famous motor race.
Aston Martin first entered Le Mans in 1928, five years after the event’s inception. Now after multiple class wins through the decades, and five since 2014, the Wings return to the top echelon of the sport with Valkyrie, as Aston Martin bids for outright victory for the first time since 1959, when Roy Salvadori (GBR) and Carroll Shelby (USA) triumphed with the Aston Martin DBR1.
The Valkyrie LM is born from the Valkyrie Hypercar race car – the first of any kind built to the FIA’s ‘Hypercar’ regulations that is contesting both the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship [WEC] and the North American-based IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship [IMSA].
Like the Valkyrie that lines up on the grid for this week’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the LM is powered by a modified, lean-burn version of the sensational Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, tuned to an identical regulation-limited 520kW (697bhp).
The Valkyrie LM represents a driving experience directly comparable to the elite performance of sports car racing’s pinnacle Hypercar class. Its differentiation is minimal to the cars competing in WEC and IMSA and focuses on ensuring the Valkyrie LM is fully accessible to amateur drivers.
Race series-specific items such as ballast and FIA-regulation electronics will be replaced by a bespoke cockpit interface tailored for track day usage.
User-friendly open-loop torque control (rather than closed-loop, which exists for competition regulation and homologation) and torque sensors that manage power delivery on the race car will also be removed, optimising the driving experience for customers. The V12 engine will be recalibrated to accept readily available fuel.
The rear-wheel-drive Valkyrie LM is driven through a seven-speed sequential transmission operated by semi-automatic paddle shift gear change, just like the competitive version.
The racing suspension configuration features double wishbones front and rear, pushrod-actuated torsion bar springs, and adjustable side and central dampers. The Valkyrie LM will run on bespoke performance tyres from F1® tyre supplier Pirelli.
The cockpit is optimised for driver safety, access, and visibility. It features a custom carbon-fibre race seat with shoulder support and headrest padding. The seat also features a six-point FIA 8853 safety harness and fire suppression system, while the steering wheel has an integrated driver display and shift lights.
Valkyrie LM owners will be free to take full possession of their car. Still, Aston Martin is also creating a dedicated driver development programme tailored to support, harness and optimise their driving ability and provide them with the ultimate top-flight motorsport experience.
The programme removes the stress of running track sessions independently and ensures the car is set up and prepared with the same expertise as it was intended to be for the race track. It is sculpted to assist drivers as they build their confidence and explore the limits of a machine designed to operate in excess of 200mph on the fast, flat-out kinks of the most famous racetrack in the world.
Operated on a ‘fly-in-and-drive’ basis, the programme is fully managed by a professional team of engineers. The team immerses the owners in the programme as they explore the car’s capabilities in a safe and controlled environment.
Aston Martin will store and maintain the cars tethered to this programme and transport them to and from the Valkyrie LM Performance Club venues. Simulator driver coaching sessions will be included before clients drive the Valkyrie LM on track.
Guided by Aston Martin’s dedicated professional driver coaches, clients will gain extra preparation through detailed track walks and classroom sessions before unleashing them under one-on-one supervision. The Valkyrie LM’s engineering team will also offer data and onboard video analysis to optimise the driving experience fully.
The dedicated programme offers an extensive vehicle and driver kit, including a helmet, Head and Neck Safety (HANS) device, driver’s suit and boots, moulded earpieces, driver gloves, and fireproof underwear.
The driver development programme promises to be the most exceptional Aston Martin ownership experience in the long history of the ultra-luxury brand.
The new customer will participate in an exclusive handover event and have their first opportunity to experience the Valkyrie LM in Q2 2026. Two further fully supported track days incorporated into the British brand’s UNLEASHED experience are scheduled for Q3 2026 and Q4 2026 at F1® standard race circuits.
The first year of the programme will culminate in a special December evening at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, including a Valkyrie LM customer dinner.
All aspects of the programme will be subject to exclusive accommodation and chauffeur service for Aston Martin’s Valkyrie LM owners.
From its conception in 2016, Valkyrie has been the apex of its class. From the original road-going Valkyrie Coupe and subsequent Valkyrie Spider, each iteration has had its own story and experience for the driver.
Valkyrie LM now brings present-day top-class motorsport to an exclusive number of customers, who will experience the journey of an Aston Martin endurance racing driver.
The car is designed to challenge and excite drivers of any background, but will be tuned to the development of each client as they progress through their journey.
Valkyrie LM is strictly limited to 10 examples, and deliveries are due in time for the bespoke, fully managed, and immersive track day programme that will be launched in Q2 2026.