From the precision of WEC to the chaos of US city circuits, Aston Martin’s Valkyrie continues to carve a bold path in top-tier endurance racing.
28 May 2025, Detroit, USA – As the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship rolls into the Motor City for Round 5, the Aston Martin THOR Team is set to take on the gritty 1.7-mile street circuit of downtown Detroit with renewed confidence. Armed with its revolutionary Valkyrie hypercar and the driver duo of Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn, the team returns to a street-fighting stance following a promising run in Long Beach—their best result yet.
Detroit marks the second and final temporary street circuit on the IMSA calendar, and for Aston Martin, it’s a proving ground not only for points but for progress. The Valkyrie is already a historic presence: the first road-derived Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) to compete in IMSA’s top-tier GTP category and the only hypercar simultaneously tackling both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2025.
Having debuted in February’s Qatar 1812km and already notched three points finishes in its first three IMSA outings, including a confidence-boosting eighth place at Long Beach, the Valkyrie project is rapidly evolving from an ambitious experiment to a genuine contender.
“To have three points finishes in succession with a brand-new and unique car is an exceptional start to the season,” said Ian James, Aston Martin THOR Team Principal. “We’re taking giant steps forward internally with every race—in terms of data, systems and procedures. It feels like only a matter of time before we’re leaving a race weekend with a big points haul and a truly standout finish.”
A Hypercar Like No Other
Born from Aston Martin’s road-going Valkyrie and meticulously adapted by THOR for top-flight competition, the race-spec variant maintains its outrageous DNA—a carbon-fibre monocoque and a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 that screams to 11,000rpm. Though limited to 500kW (680bhp) under hypercar class regulations, the Valkyrie remains one of the most dramatic and unique machines on the grid, and a powerful symbol of Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of American sportscar racing for the first time since 2011.
Familiar Faces in a New Setting
Both Gunn and De Angelis are no strangers to success in Detroit. The duo claimed their maiden IMSA win together in the GTD category back in 2021, albeit on the now-retired Belle Isle circuit. This weekend, they return to the city centre streets looking to repeat that success, this time in the faster, far more complex GTP class.
“Detroit is always special,” said Ross Gunn. “Long Beach gave us a clear understanding of how the Valkyrie behaves on tight, unforgiving tracks. The progress since then has been really encouraging, and I’m confident we can make another step here.”
De Angelis echoed the sentiment: “It’s good to be back in Detroit. We’ve had great moments here in the past and I feel like we’re building something strong with the Valkyrie. Every race we’re getting faster.”
Gearing Up for Le Mans
With this being the final street course before the Valkyrie makes its highly anticipated 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in June, Detroit also marks a crucial opportunity for the team to refine their setup and execution in the high-pressure, close-quarter environment that street circuits demand.
“Temporary circuits bring unique challenges,” noted Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport. “But they also give us valuable data that helps shape how we extract the most from Valkyrie in all race conditions. The Long Beach result was a great foundation. Now we aim to go better.”
How to Watch
Fans can catch the action from the Detroit Sports Car Classic live on Saturday, 31 May 2025, starting at 15:40 local time (+4 GMT). The race will be broadcast worldwide via IMSA TV, YouTube, and selected national networks.
As the Aston Martin Valkyrie continues to defy convention and expectation in its dual-championship campaign, Detroit offers not just another race—but another glimpse into the future of hypercar racing. One shaped by cutting-edge engineering, relentless development, and a team determined to turn promise into podiums.
