As the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans fast approaches later this month, the grid for the FIA World Endurance Championship’s (WEC) hypercar class continues to remain one of the most diverse in recent memory. From Ferrari’s all-conquering 499P to the Porsche 963, both the LMH and LMDh grids are packed with cutting-edge racing machines. But among them, one entry in particular stands out, for what it represents.
Aston Martin’s AMR-LMH is the only car in the hypercar class that was born on the road. While most cars are designed from the ground up as purebred racers, the Valkyrie LMH is a race-modified version of Aston Martin’s already potent road-going Valkyrie, borrowing a carbon fiber chassis, key aerodynamic elements like the distinctive underfloor Venturi tunnels, and a teardrop cockpit canopy. It is also the only hypercar this year to participate in both the WEC and IMSA Weather Tech SportsCar Championship.
Co-developed with Formula 1 mastermind Adrian Newey, the Valkyrie is powered by a screaming naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. Now this is noteworthy because, unlike most LMH and LMDh cars that run a hybrid drivetrain, the Valkyrie sticks with a Cosworth-built V12 unit that revs to 11,000 rpm and ditches the hybrid system of the road-going car. That makes it the only one on the grid powered purely by internal combustion. Power output is down by 300 hp compared to the street car’s 1,160 horsepower, but 700 horsepower (as per LMH BoP regulations) is still substantial, especially in a car that weighs just 1,030 kg (2,270 pounds).
This decision of trading outright efficiency for old-school performance is as much an emotional move as a strategic one. It captures the essence of what endurance racing used to be back in the day. Aston Martin has a rich and storied history with 24 Hours of Le Mans going back nearly a century, making its first appearance in 1928. The most significant moment at the venue arrived for the British marque when it achived multiple class wins in 1959 with the DBR 1. While the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH is yet to deliver anything higher than eighth this season, all eyes will be on the Circuit de la Sarthe, where Aston with an all-British driver lineup will most certainly be the loudest down the Mulsanne straight
Watch the team principal of Aston Martin (The Heart Of Racing, THOR) Team, Ian James, talk us through the highlights of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH
Image Source: Aston Martin