Friday 14th June 2019

Aston confirms Valkyrie for WEC Hypercar class

Can't wait for the V12s back at Le Mans? Bring on 2020...

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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...

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[Fetchez la vache]

So.... who else has signed up for this class?

[C.A.R.]

Wouldn't it be great if the Mercedes AMG-One got entered too?

What else could we have?!

[slow_1]

C.A.R. said:

Wouldn't it be great if the Mercedes AMG-One got entered too?

What else could we have?!

McLaren Senna GTR

[anonymous-user]

It's good news that the Hypercar class is happening, because LMP1 is unfortunately not what it was now there's little racing at the top (those years when Audi, Porsche and Toyota were duking it out were quite good). With a few manufacturers involved in the hypercars, there might be some good racing, with cars that represent an evolution of a road going equivalent, rather than the prototypes we currently have.

At a guess:

AM Valkyrie
AMG Project One
McLaren Speedtail / P1 GTR / Senna GTR
Ferrari (something)

Not sure if Porsche have something planned?

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 14th June 10:56

[MG CHRIS]

Toyota and Aston Martin for first year by kolles team have made noises of making a new car along with Glickenhaus, oreca and rebellion all have been waiting on final confirmation from the organisers.
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.

[cocopop]

During qualifying last night, there was mention that Bykolles may build a car. Similar noises around Glickenhaus.

Whether anything materialises is a different matter of course.

Edit. Beaten to it.

[Felix79]

I wonder if they could build a couple of Vulcan's to do a different production car class for WEC?


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.

[Draexin]

Take one Lotus Type 130, ditch the electric powertrain and replace with a mighty V12.
Probably not going to happen, but one can dream...

[C.A.R.]

NFC 85 Vette said:

Not sure if Porsche have something planned?

Porsche must be tempted to stick numberplates on the 919 Hybrid, surely?!

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!

[spikyone]

C.A.R. said:

Porsche must be tempted to stick numberplates on the 919 Hybrid, surely?!

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!

Harking back to the days of the Dauer 962!

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.

[Catnapper]

If this happens...... and I think it's a BIG IF. A return to Le Mans may be on.
Just not the same without full competition of LMP1

[PeXy]

As long as it’s a better campaign than the Amr - one or whatever it was called , think they ditched their mighty howling v12 to put a six cylinder turbo in it......

[PantsFire]

There are a lot of potential cars that could join the series:

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.

[C7 JFW]

Bloody. Brilliant.

I hope the cars are still on sale after they win so they can Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday.

[E65Ross]

NFC 85 Vette said:

It's good news that the Hypercar class is happening, because LMP1 is unfortunately not what it was now there's little racing at the top (those years when Audi, Porsche and Toyota were duking it out were quite good). With a few manufacturers involved in the hypercars, there might be some good racing, with cars that represent an evolution of a road going equivalent, rather than the prototypes we currently have.

At a guess:

AM Valkyrie
AMG Project One
McLaren Speedtail / P1 GTR / Senna GTR
Ferrari (something)

Not sure if Porsche have something planned?

Edited by NFC 85 Vette on Friday 14th June 10:56

Definitely wouldn't be either the Speedtail or the (now discontinued) P1 GTR for McLaren. Not sure what Ferrari or Porsche would bring but I'm sure they could think of something

It could end up being a great class!!

[Equus]

I haven't been to Le Mans for a few years, but I definitely feel another trip coming on, if they can pull this off.

[isaldiri]

Isn't the new lmp1 class just going to feature 'hypercar silhouettes'? The actual racing cars are probably not going to have very much in common with the road cars they may look like....

[The Hypno-Toad]

Any news on how many of the cars need to be built to qualify? From past experience proving the existence of the specified number has caused a few issues in the past in both racing and rallying.

Mind you, it will be bloody brilliant!

[E65Ross]

isaldiri said:

Isn't the new lmp1 class just going to feature 'hypercar silhouettes'? The actual racing cars are probably not going to have very much in common with the road cars they may look like....

Pretty much the same as GTE class then

[ISO51200]

Catnapper said:

If this happens...... and I think it's a BIG IF. A return to Le Mans may be on.
Just not the same without full competition of LMP1

Take a drive past the Red Bull F1 factory in MK and you'll see a big building opposite being painted black with Aston Martin logos going on it, I'd say they're gearing up for it....