24h Le Mans
The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH development programme has shifted up a gear in recent weeks. Next season, the British hypercar will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship – including the 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-15 June 2025) – and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the colours of Heart Of Racing.
With the 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona just around the corner (25-26 January 2025), the Valkyrie AMR-LMH has taken part in three days of testing. Heart Of Racing used the tests to work on chassis settings and adaptation to the tyres.
Drivers Alex Riberas, Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis could also explore the performance capabilities of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH under the Florida racetrack’s floodlights during a two-hour night session. These night sessions are essential to check visibility and tyre management in cooler temperatures.
Before this key phase, the Valkyrie was involved in tests organised by tyre manufacturer Michelin at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir to assess the models that hypercars will use in next season’s FIA WEC. Heart Of Racing used the opportunity to examine the new tyres’ behaviour under extreme conditions with high temperatures and an abrasive track.
Development of the Valkyrie had begun earlier in the year on the Road Atlanta circuit following Petit Le Mans. This highly technical road course offered an ideal test bed to trial the first modifications of the hypercar. The data collected during these outings provided a crucial foundation for the subsequent tests.
With such a rigorous development programme, Aston Martin and Heart Of Racing are giving themselves every chance of making a successful start to their hypercar campaign. Further tests are lined up over the coming weeks in preparation for the Valkyrie AMR-LMH’s race début in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
