If there was ever a place to bravely conduct your first public running of your latest collaboration of the highest technological level, then it is at the home of British motor racing at Silverstone and in front of one of their latest audiences of the year on Qualifying Day for the British Formula One Grand Prix!

That is precisely what Aston Martin and their strategic partners, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and AF Racing did this lunch time as their cutting edge Valkyrie hypercar powered it first public laps around the infamous race track marking a significant milestone in the project.


Five years in the making, todays demonstration laps were piloted by Aston Martin's High Performance Test driver Chris Goodwin and this marked the end to months of behind the scenes simulation and digital modelling as the British luxury car maker looks to finalise the build of the strictly exclusive 150 road going examples ahead of their expected release later this year.

Designed with the help of Red Bull Racings Adrian Newey together with the input from Aston Martin Chief Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichmann and team, this concept now reality car boasts an 1100+ bhp normally aspirated V12 from its rear mid engine layout. This car platform will now form the basis of Aston Martin Racings own hypercar entry into the 2020-21 World Endurance Championship.


The road to full production and release of these cars to their lucky owners is still a long one with many parameters and functions yet to be signed off ahead of production. For the race car, that is a little further away still but with little over one calendar year to go until the expected date of next seasons Prologue Official test - time is very much of the essence for all parties involved.


In past few weeks we have read almost a continuous stream of 'bad news events' regarding the WEC moving forward with many teams leaving both the Prototype and GTE classes of late. With Aston Martin Racing committing early to the ACO/WEC's new Hypercar Regulations and together with todays events at Silverstone, we can now all sit a little more comfortable that what David King (President of Aston Martin Racing) says he will deliver - he usually does - and its exciting - and we can't wait!!

Photo credits - Aston Martin