The Aston Martin Valkyrie LMh program is becoming clearer. After taking to the track at Daytona for IMSA pre-season testing, the British manufacturer revealed this Thursday, November 21, the names of two drivers who will have the pleasure of driving the English Hypercar in the World Championship. of Endurance in 2025. The car will be operated both in IMSA and in WEC by the British team The Heart of Racing (THOR).
As announced during the summer by AUTOhebdo, Harry Tincknell will be one of the lucky ones. The 33-year-old Briton has solid experience of the WEC and particularly the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event where he appeared 11 times for two category victories: in 2014 in LM P2 (with Jota alongside Simon Dolan and Oliver Turvey ) and in 2020 in GTE Pro. During this second success, in the company of Alex Lynn and Maxime Martin, the Englishman from Exeter already represented the Gaydon brand. In 2025, he will be at the wheel of number 007, a number obviously a tribute to the number of the wise James Bond, whose eponymous hero used to drive an Aston Martin.
Harry Tincknell will be a starter in 2025 at Aston Martin – Photo: Aston Martin
« It is an absolute honor to return to Aston Martin for the Valkyrie program, says Tincknell. I think the car will be very popular with fans thanks to its stunning looks and the incredible sound of the V12 engine. It was exciting to participate in the first development tests and the car has very pronounced DNA. I'm very proud of the hard work everyone has put in so far as we prepare for the first race. Everyone within the Aston Martin THOR team has
made me feel welcome and I know I am joining a professional team. »
Aston Martin Valkyrie will not be at the 2025 24 Hours of Daytona
The other driver selected to take the wheel of the Valkyrie LMH competing in the World Endurance Championship is Alex Riberas. Anything but a surprise to find the 30-year-old Spaniard here, a true pillar of The Heart of Racing team since 2020, and who has already had the opportunity to test the Valkyrie LMH in Bahrain then at Daytona in recent weeks. He will be at the wheel of the second Valkyrie entered in the WEC, number 009, the same one driven by the Aston Martin DBR9 during its two victories in the GT1 category of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008 and 2009.
« It is a great honor to be chosen as pilot for such an exciting project, Riberas expresses. I have been part of The Heart of Racing for 10 years and to be able to continue my journey with them to the top of Endurance racing is simply a dream come true, as is representing a brand as iconic as Aston Martin, whose the story is so remarkable. This is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the most spectacular car I've ever driven, and it sounds incredible, so being able to share it with motorsport fans around the world is something I've been looking forward to impatiently. »
The full crews for WEC and IMSA will be known at a later date. Finally, as expected in recent weeks, Aston Martin has decided to skip the 24 Hours of Daytona. The competitive debut of the Valkyrie LMH will therefore take place during the 1812 km of Qatar, the opening round of the 2025 World Championship season, on February 28.
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