Aston Martin, the iconic British sportscar manufacturer, has declared its intention to compete for the overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, starting in 2025. This ambitious endeavor will involve the utilization of a racing prototype based on their remarkable hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Backed by their endurance partner, Heart of Racing, Aston Martin will field at least one Valkyrie in the hypercar category of both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the U.S.-based IMSA sportscar championship. Notable events on their racing calendar will include Le Mans, the Daytona 24 Hours, and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Aston Martin Valkyrie in Le Mans ?
Lawrence Stroll, the executive chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda, expressed their commitment to returning to Le Mans, a stage where they have previously tasted success. He mentioned, “We have been present at Le Mans since the earliest days, and through those glorious endeavors we succeeded in winning Le Mans in 1959 and our class 19 times over the past 95 years.
Now we return to the scene of those first triumphs aiming to write new history with a racing prototype inspired by the fastest production car Aston Martin has ever built. In addition to our presence in the FIA Formula One world championship, Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of endurance racing will allow us to build a deeper connection with our customers and community.”
As Aston Martin celebrates its 110th anniversary this year, this ambitious move further solidifies its storied legacy. The Valkyrie, a limited edition hypercar designed by renowned Red Bull designer Adrian Newey, represents a street-legal incarnation of a Formula One car, with a starting price tag of £2 million. According to Stroll, the delivery of the remaining Valkyrie cars will be completed in the upcoming year.
Heart of Racing will play a significant role in financing the endurance program, while Aston Martin will contribute its valuable development expertise through its Performance Technologies company. Notably, Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso, part of the Aston Martin team, boasts two Le Mans victories and a former world endurance championship to his name. When asked about his potential participation in the 2025 Le Mans lineup, Stroll left the door open, stating that “anything’s possible,” although no concrete decisions have been made.
Furthermore, Aston Martin is gearing up to introduce new GT3 and GT4 cars early next year, developed under the banner of Aston Martin Performance Technologies.
In a recent development, the Yew Tree Consortium, led by Canadian investor Lawrence Stroll, increased its stake in the esteemed British luxury carmaker by 3.27%, bringing their ownership to 26.23%. Stroll expressed confidence in Aston Martin’s future, stating, “There was a great opportunity, an investor looking to sell a block of shares. I have great belief that the shares are severely undervalued and this company will be worth a great deal more than it is today in the coming years. I was happy to take the opportunity to purchase as many as I could.”