Aston Martin has revealed the Valkyrie LM, a limited-edition hypercar born from the Valkyrie Hypercar race car that is contesting the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the North America-based IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship (IMSA).
Like the Valkyrie that lines up on the grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the LM is powered by a modified, lean-burn version of the Cosworth-built 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, tuned to an identical regulation-limited 520kW (697bhp).
Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark said, “In all its forms, there is nothing on Earth that compares to Valkyrie. The Le Mans contender is unique amongst its peers, not least the breathtaking 6.5-liter V12 engine that provides the beating heart for the only competitive hypercar bred from a road car.”
He added, “Valkyrie LM is an exquisite opportunity to be part of the most exclusive Aston Martin owners club in the world; a group who can immerse themselves in the purest and most comparable endurance driving experience, one that would otherwise only be available to our works drivers operating at the very limit of sportscar racing’s highest echelon. Through the decades, Aston Martin has striven to give its owners the truest sense of the performance bred from its racing cars. With Valkyrie LM, there has never been an opportunity to get closer to the raw dynamic forces and state-of-the-art technology deployed by the hypercar currently competing in WEC and IMSA.” The Valkyrie LM is strictly limited to 10 examples.
Differentiation from competition cars
The differences between the Valkyrie LM and the cars competing in WEC and IMSA are minimal, and focus on ensuring the Valkyrie LM is fully accessible to amateur drivers.
Race series-specific items such as ballast and FIA-regulation electronics have been removed. Instead, the car features a bespoke cockpit interface tailored for track-day use. The car also features user-friendly open-loop torque control (rather than closed-loop, which exists for competition regulation and homologation). The torque sensors that manage power delivery on the race car have been removed, and the V12 engine has been recalibrated to accept readily available fuel.
The rear-wheel-drive Valkyrie LM is driven through a 7-speed sequential transmission operated by semi-automatic paddle shift gear change, just like the competitive version. The racing suspension configuration features double wishbones front and rear, with pushrod-actuated torsion bar springs with adjustable side and central dampers. The Valkyrie LM runs on bespoke performance tires from F1 tire supplier Pirelli.
The cockpit has been optimized for driver safety, access and visibility, with a custom carbon-fiber race seat with shoulder support and headrest padding surround. It features a six-point FIA 8853 safety harness and fire suppression system. The steering wheel has an integrated driver display and shift lights.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s head of endurance motorsport, said, “It is important to emphasize that the Valkyrie LM is close to identical to the race car that is currently competing in WEC and IMSA, with only a few minor deviations to ensure it is a non-homologated variant and is accessible for customers to experience and enjoy. Valkyrie LM represents the most authentic Hypercar track experience that is now available.”
Driver development program
Aston Martin has created a dedicated driver development program to assist drivers as they build their confidence and explore the limits of the vehicle. Operated on a ‘fly-in-and-drive’ basis, the program will be fully managed by a professional team of engineers.
The Valkyrie LM’s engineering team will also offer data and onboard video analysis to fully optimize the driving experience.
In related news, Pagani has committed to a six-year production contract to embed Conflux heat exchangers into the transmission of its latest model, the Pagani Utopia
