Aston Martin’s extraordinary Valkyrie hypercar is set to take on one of motorsport’s greatest challenges this weekend, as it makes its long-awaited debut in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the opening round of the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Run by the Aston Martin THOR Team, the Valkyrie’s appearance in the 64th running of the Daytona classic marks a major milestone for the British marque. It is the first time in more than 40 years that Aston Martin has contested overall honours at Daytona with a works entry in the top-tier GTP class.
The competition-spec Valkyrie represents the purest racing evolution of Aston Martin’s ultimate road-going hypercar. Developed jointly by Aston Martin and The Heart of Racing (THOR), it features a race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis and a modified 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12. While the engine revs to an astonishing 11,000rpm and produces over 1,000bhp in road trim, IMSA and Hypercar regulations cap output at 500kW (680bhp). Notably, Valkyrie is the only V12-powered car on the Rolex 24 grid and the only GTP entry derived directly from a road-going hypercar competing in IMSA or the FIA World Endurance Championship. When the green flag waves at 13:40 EST on Saturday, Valkyrie will become the first car of its kind ever to race at Daytona.
The #23 Valkyrie will be shared by a formidable four-driver squad. IMSA GT champions Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn are joined by Aston Martin WEC aces Alex Riberas and Marco Sørensen. Despite their experience, all four drivers will be making their GTP-class debut at the Rolex 24.
The Daytona debut comes as Valkyrie enters its second season of international competition, following a promising first year in 2025. Highlights included a sensational second-place overall finish at the Motul Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, alongside strong WEC performances such as fifth at Fuji and a race-leading showing in Bahrain. In IMSA alone, Valkyrie covered more than 4,600 racing miles, finishing inside the top ten seven times from eight starts—an impressive return for a brand-new hypercar programme.
Drivers and team management alike are realistic about expectations for the gruelling 24-hour race, with the focus firmly on learning, consistency, and execution. Alex Riberas described the occasion as “a privilege,” while Ross Gunn highlighted Daytona’s ability to “set the tone for the rest of the season.” Team Principal Ian James emphasised that success at Daytona often comes down to discipline and precision rather than outright pace.
Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, sees the Rolex 24 as another vital stepping stone in Valkyrie’s long-term development: a chance to gather data, sharpen the team, and continue shaping the programme into a future race winner.
For Aston Martin, Valkyrie’s debut at Daytona is about more than just one race. It represents the next chapter in the story of a hypercar that has already redefined what’s possible on the road, and now aims to do the same on the world’s greatest endurance racing stages.
All eyes will be on Daytona this weekend as Valkyrie takes its place among the elite.
