Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar Set For Historic Global Debut At Qatar FIA WEC Season Opener

The Qatar 1,812km at Lusail International Circuit marks a significant moment for Aston Martin as it unveils the Valkyrie hypercar in the first round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

This event introduces the Valkyrie, Aston Martin's first 'Le Mans Hypercar' (LMH) and the only car in the premier category of the WEC that is based on a road-legal hypercar. The British luxury performance brand is set to compete in this historic season not only in the FIA WEC but also in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in North America, showcasing the Valkyrie's exceptional capabilities on a global stage.

The Valkyrie's engineering combines a race-optimized carbon fibre chassis with a powerful 6.5-litre V12 engine developed by Cosworth. This engine, naturally aspirated and capable of revving up to 11,000rpm, is modified to meet a 500kw (680bhp) power limit as per the regulations, despite being able to produce over 1,000bhp in its standard form.

This bold move places Aston Martin at the pinnacle of world championship sportscar racing for the first time since 1989 with the AMR1 Group C challenger. It also opens up the opportunity for the brand to claim its first outright victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1959, a feat achieved by Carroll Shelby (USA) and Roy Salvadori (GBR) in the Aston Martin DBR1. Aston Martin has been a constant presence in the FIA WEC since its inception in 2012, securing 11 championship titles and establishing itself as one of the series' most successful manufacturers.

The Valkyrie's driver line-up for the two-car programme showcases a mix of experience and emerging talent. The #007 car features an all-British team with Harry Tincknell, a previous European Le Mans Series (ELMS) champion and Le Mans LMGT3 winner, joined by Tom Gamble, the 2020 ELMS LMP3 title winner.

Ross Gunn, known for his victories in IMSA's GTD and GTD Pro categories, will complement the team for the longer races. In the sister #009 car, Marco Sørensen, a three-time FIA WEC GT class champion, teams up with Alex Riberas, a consistent GTD Pro winner in IMSA, and Roman De Angelis, the 2022 IMSA GTD Champion, adding depth to the roster for endurance events.

Harry Tincknell expressed his eagerness for the race, stating, "I'm massively looking forward to Qatar, to get to race the new Valkyrie Hypercar for the first time and to return to Aston Martin. The world is waiting with anticipation to see the car 'in the flesh' and it's amazing to be a part of a programme that has generated such interest. We know we're starting two or three years behind our competition so the learning curve is going to be steep. Everyone's worked so hard and we're all ready for what is such a big moment for Aston Martin."

Tom Gamble shared his enthusiasm, "I'm very excited for the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Qatar and have been counting down the days since I found out I was going to be a part of this incredible Aston Martin Valkyrie project. There's a lot of learning to do but we have an amazing team of people behind us, so hopefully, come the race, we can be in a strong position to challenge for a solid result on our debut. It's a dream come true to make my Hypercar debut with Aston Martin THOR Team, so I'm going to love every minute."

Ross Gunn highlighted the significance of the event, "This is a huge moment for Aston Martin and THOR. The debut of the Valkyrie has been hugely anticipated and as a driver who has been with Aston Martin for 10 years, this is a giant step for my career. It's great to be back in the FIA WEC for the first round of the championship. We're here to learn as much as we can and try to have as strong a package as possible heading into the 10-hour race."

Marco Sørensen commented on the anticipation, "I'm looking forward to getting to Qatar, seeing the Valkyrie and the team in the garage and bringing this whole programme forwards. Qatar is the opening round and we're going to be on a steep learning curve, but we have the right people on board so there's only one way to go and that's to get everything started. I'm proud to be a part of this journey coming up so let's make it a great one."

Alex Riberas reflected on the milestone, "Making my Hypercar debut with Aston Martin THOR Team in Qatar is a huge milestone for me and for everybody involved in this project. It's been an incredible journey of many months and a lot of long days developing this race car. Now we finally get to see it race on the world stage for the first time. It's a privilege to be involved and I know that Qatar will leave me with memories that I'll cherish for a very long time."

Roman De Angelis shared his emotions, "It's hard to explain all the emotions I have heading to the first event for the Aston Martin THOR Team Hypercar programme. I've been super-fortunate to be a part of some of the early testing and have spent a year hoping to be in the position I'm now in. So much effort has gone into this programme from all involved and we're all looking forward to making our mark in Qatar."

Ian James, Team Principal of Aston Martin THOR Team, conveyed the significance of the project, "To be running at world championship-level with a manufacturer like Aston Martin, with the car acknowledged as the ultimate hypercar – and the only one that has gone from road to track – is a 'pinch me' moment. It's Year One and we have to be realistic about what we can achieve so our goal initially is just to go out there and get better every time, but if I didn't think we could reach the summit of the mountain, we wouldn't be doing it. I'm confident in the abilities of all involved and our ambitions are incredibly high."

Adam Carter, Aston Martin's Head of Endurance Motorsport, emphasized the Valkyrie's significance and the expectations for competitive success, "The Valkyrie Hypercar is a moment in time in automotive history, and as part of that, it should race to underline and cement its place in history and its technological achievement. By adhering to the Hypercar rules, it has a very strong association to the DNA of the Valkyrie road car, featuring at its heart the same V12 power unit and the iconic Aston Martin design presence.

"The competition in the FIA WEC is of such a high level and we have a lot of respect for that, but it's why we want to be here. Of course we want Valkyrie to win, but winning is only worth it when you beat strong competition. With the roles that both THOR, Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT) and partners have played in developing the car, we can be confident that we have all the right ingredients in place."

The debut race of the Valkyrie at the Qatar 1812km is scheduled to begin at 14:00 local time (+3 Hours GMT) on Friday, 28 February 2025. Fans can follow the action live on FIA WEC TV online, offering commentary in either English or French, and through selected national broadcasters. This marks the start of an exciting new era for Aston Martin in the realm of international motorsport, with high hopes and anticipation from both the team and its supporters.