Endurance racing is enjoying an all-time high right now. With nine factory-backed OEMs battling it out at the top level, we’re witnessing a golden age of manufacturer involvement. But let’s be honest—one thing has been missing from the modern Le Mans era: proper noise.
Sure, the new crop of Hypercars is fast, efficient, and packed with cutting-edge tech, but when it comes to sheer aural drama, it’s been mostly a game of who can make their turbocharged engine sound the least uninspiring. Cadillac’s big, brash V8 has been the only real exception. Until now.
Because, ladies and gentlemen, Aston Martin has arrived with a naturally aspirated V12. Cue the applause, roll out the red carpet, and get ready for the goosebumps. The Valkyrie AMR-LMH is finally here, and it’s about to make endurance racing sound a whole lot better.
A Rocky Road to Le Mans
If you’ve been following endurance racing for a while, you’ll know the Valkyrie’s journey to the top has been a wild one. Way back in 2019, Aston Martin was among the first manufacturers to commit to the newly announced Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) class. The plan? To race a version of the Valkyrie hypercar, which was still deep in development at the time.
Then, in 2020, Aston Martin did an Aston Martin thing—it pulled out. The project was shelved, and it looked like the Valkyrie’s shot at Le Mans glory was dead before it even got to the grid.
But fast forward to October 2023, and in a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood comeback story, Aston Martin decided to revive the project. With the help of The Heart of Racing (which, conveniently, shortens to THOR—arguably the coolest team name in motorsport), the Valkyrie was back in business.
The Beast Under the Hood
After months of teaser shots, cryptic social media posts, and blurry trackside spy videos, Aston Martin has finally unveiled the finished product. And, as expected, it’s an absolute stunner.
At the heart of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH is its defining feature: a 6.5-litre, naturally aspirated V12 built by Cosworth. Unlike the road-going Valkyrie’s engine, which spends most of its time navigating Monaco traffic at 30 km/h, this one is designed to run flat out for 24 hours straight. That means some necessary changes, including:
• A leaner fuel mixture to reduce consumption
• A slightly lower redline (no screaming 11,000 rpm this time, sadly) and a much lower power output (limited to a sedate 680 horsepower compared to the 1160 horsepower in the road-going version)
• No hybrid system—just pure, unfiltered combustion goodness
• A seven-speed sequential racing gearbox from Xtrac
Aero That Means Business
You can’t miss the gigantic rear wing, which looks like it was borrowed from an Airbus prototype. The car’s aero package is completely new, featuring a massive tailfin, intricate splitters, and more downforce than common sense.
Underneath, it’s running double-wishbone suspension with pushrods and adjustable dampers, making it as sharp through corners as it is loud on the straights.
Ready to Take on the World
Aston Martin and THOR will run two Valkyries in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), making their debut in Qatar at the end of February. But that’s not all—a single car will also compete in IMSA, kicking things off at Sebring in March.
Will the Valkyrie dominate endurance racing? Who knows. But one thing’s for sure: Le Mans just got a whole lot louder. And for that, we couldn’t be more excited.
