The British marque returns to the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe this June with its astonishing Valkyrie Hypercar, determined to transform last year’s promising debut into a genuine challenge for overall victory at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Exactly 67 years after Aston Martin secured its famous outright Le Mans triumph with the DBR1, the Valkyrie once again carries Britain’s hopes into endurance racing’s greatest battle. Developed from one of the most extreme road-going hypercars ever built, the Valkyrie is now entering its second Le Mans campaign with growing momentum and increasing belief.
Fresh from strong performances in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including points finishes at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps, Aston Martin THOR Team arrives in France with two specially liveried Valkyrie Hypercars and renewed confidence that the programme is beginning to unlock its true potential.
Powered by a race-developed version of the Valkyrie’s sensational naturally aspirated 6.5-litre Cosworth V12, the Hypercar remains one of the most distinctive machines on the grid. While regulations cap output at 680bhp, the engine retains the character that has made the road car an instant icon, complete with its spine-tingling soundtrack and 11,000rpm pedigree.
“A year into the programme, Valkyrie is beginning to realise its potential,” said Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark. “Le Mans is the most important standalone race in world motorsport, and we’re proud to carry British hopes into this year’s event. Valkyrie embodies everything Aston Martin stands for in performance engineering, and Le Mans feels like its natural habitat.”
A Hypercar Unlike Any Other
The Valkyrie occupies a unique position within the Hypercar field. It is currently the only top-class WEC contender directly derived from a road-legal hypercar and the only Hypercar competing simultaneously in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. That exclusivity makes Aston Martin’s challenge even more compelling as it battles established rivals with years of experience in the category.
“The competition has never been stronger,” said Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport Adam Carter. “We’re here to win, but we’re also realistic about the scale of the challenge. Every race teaches us something new about the Hypercar class, and we’re continuing to find performance as the programme develops.”
Star-Studded Driver Line-Up
The #007 Valkyrie will feature an all-British trio of Ross Gunn, Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble. Tincknell and Gamble arrive at Le Mans after securing Valkyrie’s strongest WEC finish to date with fourth place at Spa.
Meanwhile, the #009 entry combines Aston Martin stalwart Marco Sørensen with Alex Riberas and Roman De Angelis, creating another formidable line-up capable of delivering a breakthrough result.
Last year’s Le Mans debut saw both Valkyries reach the finish in a significant achievement for the young programme, with the #009 scoring Aston Martin’s first Hypercar-class championship points. The team believes that experience could prove invaluable in 2026.
British Pride on Motorsport’s Biggest Stage
A specially designed Le Mans livery featuring a Union Flag on the front splitter underlines the significance of the occasion. For Aston Martin, Le Mans is more than another race, it is a return to one of the most important chapters in the company’s motorsport history.
From the legendary DBR1 victory in 1959 to multiple GT-class successes in the modern era, Aston Martin’s legacy at La Sarthe spans nearly a century. Now, Valkyrie aims to write the next chapter.
With a thunderous V12 soundtrack, striking aerodynamics and steadily improving pace, Aston Martin’s flagship Hypercar heads to Le Mans carrying the hopes of fans eager to see the famous wings fighting at the very front of endurance racing once again.
Whether Valkyrie can challenge the established Hypercar giants remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Aston Martin’s most ambitious Le Mans campaign in decades is ready for battle.
