Aston confirms Valkyrie for WEC Hypercar class
Can't wait for the V12s back at Le Mans? Bring on 2020...
Understandably, the introduction of a 'hypercar' class for the World Endurance Championship from September 2020 has met with some enthusiasm. Replacing the current LMP1 class, the hypercars will see the return of production-derived sportscars racing at the highest level; if it can capture the imagination like the GT1 class did in the late 1990s, the FIA will have a very popular series on its hands.
Today Aston Martin has ramped up the hypercar excitement, with confirmation of two works Valkyries for the inaugural season. The cars will compete in the entire super season from September 2020, including the 2021 Le Mans - marking a century since an Aston first competed at La Sarthe.
The manufacturer makes no bones about its intentions for victory in the race - and the world championship - citing the many years that have passed since the McLaren F1 claimed a win for a "British-built derivative of a road car". The Valkyrie will race with a motorsport prepared version of its 11,000rpm, 6.5-litre V12 - imagine the noise that'll make - as well as carrying over the chassis and aerodynamic innovations of the road car. With part of the aim for the hypercar class to reduce costs somewhat over P1 (all things being relative), the Valkyrie for Le Mans and the rest of the WEC calendar should closely resemble the road car.
For those enthused by the prospect of a pair of 1,000hp, V12 Aston Martins racing at Le Mans, you're certainly not alone. Andy Palmer said of the news: "The Aston Martin Valkyrie is primed for such a challenge and sits perfectly within the ACO's new 'hypercar' rule framework. Bringing to bear all of our previous experience and knowledge of competing at the top levels of motorsport, we embark on this most ambitious project with the necessary ingredients for success."
So while the Valkyrie will arrive a couple of years too late to mark 60 years of Aston's 24 Hours victory with another, suffice it to say there will be plenty willing it on when 2021 comes. We look forward to seeing the rest of the field in due course...
At a guess:
AM Valkyrie
AMG Project One
McLaren Speedtail / P1 GTR / Senna GTR
Ferrari (something)
Not sure if Porsche have something planned?
Whoever there will be balance of performance and a mix of hybrid and non hybrid along with full out race engine too production engines can see a lot of sandbagging and arguments in the future.
It would be totally awesome to see this new GT1 class happen. The late 90's was such an awesome time as there were so many manufacturers entering and the cars just looked amazing. I've always loved the Mercedes CLK-LM/GTR , Toyota TS202 GT-One and the 911 GT-1 and modern versions of those cars is going to bring back some much needed burst of life to the series.
Going over what we know is taking part, there is a F1 1.6 V6 Hybrid engine in the AMG Project One, the Valkyrie with it's screaming V12 and finally McLaren with it's twin turbo V8 (which is based off an old late 90's LeMans engine)?
I think when you allow different types of engines in the same class, you get bigger advances for much less money, as they can try something different, rather than the very narrow margins of improvement, seen in F1.
Ferrari should enter on of their FXX projects, it would do their reputation some good as they're not about to win anything in F1!
This is great news for the sport, of course, but it raises some questions. Given how heavily aero-influenced the Valkyrie is - more so than practically any other road legal car - are we not likely to end up with a whole load of BOP issues in the hypercar era? The FIA/ACO have failed miserably with the current hybrids to the point that LMP1 is a bad joke, there have long been issues in GTE, and for those with longer memories the diesel "equivalence" basically killed off Pescarolo as a constructor.
I hope I'm wrong, but I can see this hypercar class going the same way as 1990s GT1. Burning brightly, but with manufacturers producing ever more extreme homologation specials whilst costs spiral, until they virtually all flounce because one manufacturer is dominating or the FIA/ACO decide it's unsustainable.
The Brabham BT62
The Apollo IE has a limited production run but a race variant wouldn't impact that, and the car is being built in conjunction with HWA Team.
Gordon Murray Automotive T50, a GTR version of that racing at Le Mans would be something to see!
Ferrari's SF90 or La'F successor
The Lamborghini LB48H
The Koenigsegg Jesko, though they may have to tone it down
Pagani's Huayra successor, they've not raced before but this might tempt them.
Porsche's 917 concept looked very 'real', I'd not be surprised to see it go on sale.
At a guess:
AM Valkyrie
AMG Project One
McLaren Speedtail / P1 GTR / Senna GTR
Ferrari (something)
Not sure if Porsche have something planned?
It could end up being a great class!!
Just not the same without full competition of LMP1
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