Heart of Racing has outlined their IMSA and FIA WEC driver line-ups ahead of their nearing Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar programme endeavour.
The Heart of Racing (THOR) will run Aston Martin’s factory Hypercar project which is making its racing debut towards the end of the month in Qatar.
Two green Valkyries numbered #007 and #009 will compete in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship against seven other Hypercar manufacturers.
Each car will utilise two-driver line-ups except for the Qatar 1812km, Le Mans (24 hours) and the 8 Hours of Bahrain.
Aston Martin has one overall win at Le Mans from 1959 and 18 other class victories.
Tom Gamble, who drove for HOR at the recent Daytona 24 Hours, will partner Harry Tincknell in the #007 Aston Martin as Marco Sorensen and Alex Riberas will co-pilot the #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie.
In the North American-based IMSA SportsCar Championship, there will be a single blue #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie competing in their GTP category.
IMSA champions Ross Gunn and Romain de Angelis will co-pilot the #23 Aston Martin with another unconfirmed driver, as Gunn will join the #007 and de Angelis in the #009 at the three longer WEC races.
THOR team principal Ian James said: “For anybody that’s been involved in sportscar racing, to be running a car at the premier level with Aston Martin, and a car which is widely accepted as one of the most beautiful in the world – the only one that is the genuine progeny of a road car – is a real honour.
“To be entrusted with this programme is most definitely a career highlight.”
The return of the V12 to top level sportscars
The programme has gained over 15,000 km of testing for the Valkyrie and is the only Hypercar without the use of an electric-petrol hybrid powertrain.
A Cosworth-built naturally aspirated 6.5L V12 unit powers the Valkyrie to 680bhp (700kW) as required by the Hypercar regulations, even though the road car reaches over 1,000bhp.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, added: “The Aston Martin Valkyrie is not just a hypercar; it is a revolution in automotive engineering history representing the pinnacle of performance, design and innovation.
“With an extraordinary fusion of F1 technology and road car mastery, Valkyrie is truly built for racing and its participation in the highest level of world endurance racing will only further cement its technological achievement.
“By adhering to the Hypercar rules, the race car shares many strands of DNA with the road car, with the same V12 power unit at its heart.
“Running lean to reduce the amount of fuel you are carrying to deliver the required stint energy is important.
“We operate the engine slower than it’s capable of because we require less power.
“The lower power limit within the regulations creates an opportunity for us to revisit the torque curve and reduce frictional losses by reducing engine speed to increase fuel efficiency.”
The Valkyrie missed this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona on 25-26 January, although participated in last November’s Daytona test.
Its forthcoming world racing debut will take place at the Losail International Circuit with the WEC 1812km season-opener on 28 February.
After this 10-hour event will be IMSA’s 12 Hours of Sebring on 15 March.
Keep an eye out soon on Motorsport Week for a gallery on the green and blue Valkyries!
