British GT Racing Enthusiasts Eagerly Await Aston Martin’s Valkyrie AMR-LMH Debut
(Silverstone, UK – August 2023) The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH, the British manufacturer’s latest contender for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA SportsCar Championship, has already accumulated over 6,000 km (3,700 miles) in pre-season testing.
The Le Mans Hypercar, developed from the Adrian Newey-inspired Valkyrie road car, has been put through its paces over the course of six days of testing on home soil in the UK and mainland Europe. This testing regime commenced just two days after the car’s initial roll-out at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit on July 16th.
Aston Martin’s head of endurance racing, Adam Carter, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, stating:
“We have set out a test program with challenging and realistic objectives, and we are going through the schedule ticking them off. So far, we have accomplished 6,000 km and are very pleased with how it is going, but it is still early in what is going to be a long program.”
The Valkyrie AMR-LMH will be run by the US-based Heart of Racing team in both the WEC and IMSA next year, and the team is looking beyond Aston Martin’s existing pool of GT drivers to finalize the driver lineup. As team principal Ian James emphasized:
“There are a lot of good drivers out there, but we want drivers who can leave the ego in the garage and do a solid job. That is what we are looking for, team players.”
The initial testing phase has seen the car piloted by Aston Martin regulars, including Harry Tincknell, Darren Turner, and Mario Farnbacher, with former Aston driver Stefan Mucke completing the very first shakedown run.
As the development program continues, the Valkyrie is expected to undergo testing in the Middle East, where the WEC has two rounds in Bahrain and Qatar. Carter also revealed that a second car is scheduled to come online in the autumn, with the potential for the Valkyrie to make its race debut at the Daytona 24 Hours IMSA season-opener in January 2024 still a point of discussion.
Aston Martin’s return to the top echelon of endurance racing has generated significant excitement among British GT enthusiasts, who eagerly await the Valkyrie AMR-LMH‘s competitive debut as the marque seeks to conquer the WEC and IMSA championships.
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