Aston Martin cancels plans for Valkyrie Le Mans entry
Development of WEC racing version of the Valkyrie hypercar "postponed" as Aston reconsiders prototype class entry
Aston Martin has announced its withdrawal from the World Endurance Championship’s new hypercar class, in which it had planned enter a racing version of the 1160bhp Valkyrie.
In an official statement, the brand said it will now "pause" as it "considers whether to continue in any future prototype class." Development on a track-only Valkyrie has been cancelled as a result.
The company cited uncertainty over the recent Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and International Motor Sport Association (IMSA) decision to combine the hypercar class with the World Endurance Championship's upcoming LMDh prototype category from 2021, and the American WeatherTech Sportscar Championship from 2022.
"We entered Aston Martin Valkyrie in WEC and at Le Mans with the understanding that we would be competing with similar machinery and like-minded manufacturers," Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said. "The situation has changed and it makes sense for us to pause and reconsider our options."
In response, the FIA Endurance Commission and WEC called the decision "very regrettable but perhaps not unexpected", citing "persistent rumours over the last six months concerning the fragility of the brand’s exposure" and a decision to enter Formula 1 in 2021 as possible reasons for the exit.
The Valkyrie racing project was being readied as a competitor to the Toyota GR Super Sport, a new Peugeot hypercar and potentially entrants from Lamborghini and Porsche in the new top-rung endurance category, which replaces the LMP1 class.
Aston’s exit from the hypercar category leaves reigning Le Mans champion Toyota as the sole manufacturer to have confirmed its entry for the 2020/2021 season. Peugeot has announced an intention to race in 2022, while American manufacturer Glickenhaus plans to compete with its new SCG007 racer from 2021 onwards.
It remains to be seen if the FIA racing body, which oversee the World Endurance Championship, will reconsider the launch date for the new class.
The racing Valkyrie’s cancellation comes amid a significant shake-up at Aston Martin. Last month, Lawrence Stroll, owner of the Racing Point Formula 1 team, took a 16.7% stake in the sports car manufacturer for £182 million, prompting the firm to radically overhaul its future product plan.
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In the wake of the investment, Aston reaffirmed its commitment to launching the road-going Valkyrie this year, and just today (18 February) released images and video of prototypes being tested by F1 drivers Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon. Customer deliveries are still due to begin in the later half of 2020.
The Valkyrie is the result of a joint venture between Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, which will be maintained “until Aston Martin Valkyrie is delivered”. It is unclear if the withdrawal from WEC is linked to Stroll’s investment.
Aston Martin will continue racing in other endurance categories with its Vantage GTE, and is set to reenter Formula One next year when the Racing Point F1 team is rebranded as an Aston Martin F1 works team.
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