The shape and sound of things to come in 2025 for Heart of Racing and Aston Martin
Monday, July 22, 2024
With the co-joined project with Aston Martin Performance Technologies now based around the Northamptonshire circuit, last week’s video captures were of the cars first systems checks and installation runs before a more rigorous testing and development programme comes into play later this year in time for a prompt debut at Daytona early next year.
Long term Aston Martin Racing test, development and racing driver Darren Turner was again at hand to conduct yet another race car development from the factory alongside that of Heart of Racing IMSA driver Mario Farnbacher with the return of Harry Tincknell to the British marque.
Speaking with Heart of Racing’s Ian James at the Spa round of the WEC earlier this year, he was confident then of a third quarter debut for the new race car directly attributed from the extreme Valkyrie AMR Pro production road car – the only car within the topflight IMSA GTP and WEC LMH classes that can claim that.
“The first runs for the Valkyrie AMR-LMH have been an immensely proud moment in the programme. The birth of this project has been a couple of years in the making, so to get it to the track and to see it going around in the flesh, feels momentous for The Heart of Racing. We’re looking forward to the journey ahead – it’s a steep hill to climb for everyone involved in this project.
We are at the pinnacle of sportscar racing, the competitors are formidable, and they have been doing it a long time. Some of them have endless resources. We know we are going up against the best, so we intend to represent Aston Martin at the same level. I believe, from what we have seen so far, and with the DNA of where this car came from, I think we have the right tools to be able to do this successfully” said James after last weeks test runs.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, said: “The Valkyrie AMR-LMH sets its own standard as a thoroughbred endurance competition car. It is a pure, leading edge racing machine, and while it is very early in the testing cycle, from what we have witnessed so far, we are satisfied that it is achieving the targets and criteria we have set out for it to accomplish.”
The race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis Valkyrie AMR-LMH uses a modified, lean-burning version of the sensational Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, which in standard form revs to 11,000rpm and develops over 1000bhp. The power unit is enhanced and adapted to meet the performance window of the Hypercar class and developed to withstand the rigours of top-level long-distance competition and comes with a sound note to die for within current motor racing.
Another interesting fact the follows on from the inclusion of the Valkyrie within the Aston Martin/Aston Martin Racing 2025 programme sees them compete at the highest levels right through from F1, GTP/LMH through to LMGT3, GT3 and GT4 series.
The future is looking bright already in 2025.
Photo credits – Aston Martin / Heart of Racing
