Aston Martin Valkyrie Impresses at Petit Le Mans
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, USA — In a remarkable display of determination, the #23 Aston Martin THOR Team Valkyrie AMR-LMH captured a hard-fought second place at the 28th Motul Petit Le Mans on Saturday, securing its first podium finish in the IMSA series. The finishing time was just 5.1 seconds behind the winning #31 Cadillac Whelen V-Series.R.
The driver lineup of Ross Gunn, Roman de Angelis, and Alex Riberas executed a strategy that saw them contend with the more established competitors, particularly during the race’s closing two hours. Gunn noted the significance of the achievement, stating, “It’s huge for everybody… our aim at the start of the year was to try and achieve that.”
After a challenging start to the season that included teething issues with the newly introduced Valkyrie, the team has progressively improved its performance. Following recent races, including sixth at the IMSA Road America sprint and fifth at the WEC 6 Hours of Fuji, the podium at Petit Le Mans serves as a testament to the vehicle’s development.
De Angelis drove the final stint, managing both the fuel strategy and on-track positioning. Initially tasked with securing a podium finish, he stated, “I don’t think I realized until 15 minutes to go that we were kind of in the shot for the win,” reflecting on the unexpected competitiveness of their performance against seasoned rivals.
After its troubled inception—initially announced in 2019, then put on hold—the Valkyrie’s resurgence in 2023 has already made a mark on the sport. Gunn emphasized the importance of continuous improvement: “To be honest, it’s been a privilege to be a part of something that’s been continuously improving.”
With its first Rolex 24 at Daytona approaching in January, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is set to be a key entry to watch in the upcoming season. The team’s efforts to enhance the car’s reliability and performance indicate a promising future for Aston Martin in top-tier prototype racing.
As the season concludes, the focus will now shift to building on this momentum heading into 2025.
