The all-new Aston Martin Valkyrie has made its highly anticipated debut in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), taking on the grueling Qatar 1812km race at Lusail International Circuit. Despite facing the challenges of a steep learning curve, the Valkyrie, driven by Marco Sørensen, Alex Riberas, and Roman De Angelis, finished 17th after completing 295 laps, marking a solid first step in its quest for endurance racing glory.
The Valkyrie’s entry into the WEC’s Hypercar class marks a historic moment for Aston Martin, as it becomes the first manufacturer to race a road-legal hypercar in the series. Though the Valkyrie was unable to secure a points finish on its debut, the car’s race pace during the event showed encouraging signs of its potential. Throughout the race, the #009 Valkyrie and its sister car, #007, demonstrated competitive lap times, matching the pace of the front-runners in several stints.
Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance, Adam Carter, acknowledged that the race was always expected to be a “learning weekend.” He added, “We’ve learned a huge amount over the past week, gathered considerable data, and this gives us plenty to build on as we look ahead to Valkyrie’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut.”
While the Valkyrie’s debut race wasn’t without challenges, including a pit stop to replace a missing door and the eventual withdrawal of the #007 car due to a transmission issue, the team remains optimistic. Valkyrie’s impressive race pace provides a glimpse of its potential as the team looks to develop the car further throughout the season.
Aston Martin THOR Team Principal Ian James expressed confidence, saying, “The team has gelled so well, and we saw real evidence of what the car is capable of. We are excited for what’s to come as we continue to learn and develop the Valkyrie.”
With its combination of cutting-edge technology and race-optimised design, the Valkyrie is set to be a formidable contender in both the WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
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