Aston Martin confirms Hypercar entry for 2025 Le Mans

Aston Martin has officially announced its entry into the Hypercar class for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking an ambitious return with the aim of winning the prestigious race for the first time since 1959. In partnership with Heart of Racing, the British car brand Ultra-luxury Sports Cars will line up two Valkyrie AMR-LMH hypercars.

The decision to participate in Le Mans and all rounds of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) follows a change in regulations recently announced by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).. The new rule, which comes into force in 2025, requires each manufacturer entered in the Hypercar class to have at least two cars in each event.

Adam Carter, head of endurance motorsport at Aston Martin, highlighted the brand’s legacy in endurance racing, which dates back more than 95 years. “We are committed to the WEC hypercar concept and to bringing our famous wings back to the international sports car racing scene, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Carter. He revealed that the Valkyrie AMR-LMH program is progressing on schedule, with intensive testing planned ahead of homologation expected in the autumn.

The Valkyrie AMR-LMH will be equipped with a race-optimized carbon fiber chassis and a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine built by Cosworth. This engine, originally developed for the Valkyrie road car, is capable of reaching 11,000 rpm and developing over 1000 bhp. The racing version of the engine is being tuned to meet the Balance of Performance requirements of the Hypercar class and withstand the demands of long-term competition.

Testing and development of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH is already at an advanced stage, with recent evaluations taking place at Aston Martin’s Silverstone facility and the Portimão circuit in Portugal. Long-time partner Heart of Racing has established a UK headquarters for its WEC program, close to the Silverstone facility, where the cars are being built in cooperation with Aston Martin Performance Technologies.

In addition to the WEC, Aston Martin and Heart of Racing also plan to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar program with the Valkyrie AMR-LMH, targeting the GTP class of the North American endurance series.

Heart of Racing team principal Ian James expressed excitement about the new regulations and the prospect of having two cars in the hypercar class. “The challenge ahead is immense, and we are looking forward to the journey,” said James.

With entry into the Hypercar class, Aston Martin ensures a presence at all levels of endurance racing, from amateur drivers to the pinnacle of sports motorsport. From 2025, Aston Martin will be the only manufacturer competing in all levels of sports car and GT racing (from Hypercar to GT4) and the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

This return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a significant milestone for Aston Martin, reaffirming its commitment and passion for endurance motorsport and looking to repeat the historic success that has shaped its identity in the world of racing.