The latest thrilling chapter in the Aston Martin story continues this weekend as the British ultra-luxury high performance brand’s all-new Valkyrie hypercar makes its IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship (IMSA) debut in North America’s most demanding endurance race, the legendary Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring.
The first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ (LMH) to be produced by Aston Martin, Valkyrie is the only car in IMSA’s premier GTP category derived from a road-legal hypercar. Its US debut, masterminded by the works Aston Martin THOR team at Sebring, continues an historic season for the British contender, which will become the first LMH car of any kind to compete in IMSA, and is the only such racer contesting both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), where it made its debut in Qatar last month.
Developed from the Valkyrie production car by Aston Martin and THOR, the competition
version blends a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis with a modified 6.5-litre V12 powerplant that revs to 11,000rpm and produces over 1000bhp in standard form, but adheres to a strict 500kw (680bhp) power limit as per hypercar regulations.
Valkyrie positions Aston Martin in the top division of US sportscar racing for the first time since 2011; a season in which five outright victories and seven podiums were achieved in the American Le Mans Series.
The Aston Martin works driver roster for the single-car programme features a line-up brimming with international experience and success. Canadian Roman De Angelis, the 2022 IMSA GTD champion, and Ross Gunn (GBR), a regular race winner in the GTD and GTD Pro categories, will contest the rest of the IMSA season in the #23 Valkyrie. Both are past winners of the Aston Martin Race Academy.
They are joined at Sebring – and for the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta – by THOR regular Alex Riberas (ESP), whose full-time campaign in 2025 is racing Valkyrie in the FIA WEC, but who has a wealth of experience in IMSA and has been a GTD Pro race winner in each of the past three seasons.
Ross Gunn, driver #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “Sebring this year is a very important event for us, even more than normal, and it will be the first IMSA race for Valkyrie, which is incredibly exciting. Of course we are on a very steep learning trajectory right now, but everyone is working super-hard to bring as much performance as possible to the car. I’m really looking forward to getting out there. I think it’s going to be a huge challenge both physically and mentally because Sebring is always one of the toughest events, but it’s what we have trained hard for. It’s very exciting to have the V12 engine going around Sebring. It’s going to be an incredible weekend.”
Roman De Angelis, driver #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “I’m looking forward to heading to Sebring for the first IMSA race for the Valkyrie programme and the first race for my full-season campaign with Ross. I think we learned a lot as drivers and as a team from our FIA WEC debut in Qatar a few weeks ago and that will all help us to keep progressing. Sebring is such an iconic and unique event that I look forward to every year and to get to do it in the top class for the first time is something I could only have dreamed of a couple of years ago, so it’s definitely going to be a special weekend.
Alex Riberas, driver #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “The 12 Hours of Sebring may be the highlight of the year for the Aston Martin Team THOR IMSA programme, marking the debut of the Aston Martin Valkyrie in North America. It’s also the first LMH car to race under IMSA’s regulations, which is a huge milestone for everyone involved in the project. One thing everyone knows about Sebring is that it’s very challenging. We know we are stepping into a big, big weekend for everybody. I’m really looking forward to being on an amazing track with such an amazing car.”
Ian James, Team Principal, Aston Martin THOR Team: “IMSA is where The Heart of Racing team has grown up and flourished into a championship winning organisation so to be joining the top class is a very special moment for all involved. To be bringing this incredible hypercar to the American race fans is a precious moment for us all. It’s a dream come true to be racing in the top class with a manufacturer programme with everyone involved. We obviously learned a lot in the race conditions on our debut in Qatar two weeks ago, and we always knew that would be an educational experience for us, but it is one that we drew a lot of confidence from, and of course every time we run now we’re taking on learnings and applying them to the next event. This only builds momentum, and I expect that to carry on through the season.”
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport: “With Aston Martin returning to top-flight endurance competition in the US with such a breathtaking hypercar, the first of its kind to race in IMSA and the only one developed from a road car, this is clearly a landmark step for the Valkyrie programme. We all know the challenges Sebring offers, both as a venue and as a race, but these are important tests for Valkyrie and every mile builds data and understanding as we build on the car’s debut in Qatar. The car cuts a striking silhouette in its blue livery, and with its unique sound from the V12 6.5-litre engine, I am certain this car will win the hearts and minds of the American racing fans.”
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