Austin, TX – 2 September 2025
The Aston Martin Valkyrie, the British brand’s radical V12-powered hypercar, is set to make its eagerly anticipated debut at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend, as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) returns to Texas for the six-hour Lone Star Le Mans. The appearance marks a milestone in Aston Martin’s 75th anniversary celebrations in the Americas, highlighting the marque’s relentless pursuit of performance, innovation, and racing excellence.
Raced by the works Aston Martin THOR Team, the Valkyrie is the first Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) developed by Aston Martin and the only road-derived hypercar competing at the pinnacle of endurance racing. Built from a race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis and a 6.5-litre V12 engine revving to 11,000rpm, the car produces over 1,000bhp in standard form, with power limited to 680bhp under hypercar regulations.
The Valkyrie has already demonstrated its potential across two continents. In the US, it has consistently secured top-10 finishes in every race, including a sixth-place at Road America. In WEC, the hypercar continues to build competitiveness, with notable performances including the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo in July, where Valkyrie recorded its best qualifying results to date (11th and 12th) and spent the early stages inside the top ten. Both cars also successfully completed their maiden 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, earning Aston Martin its first Hypercar-class Manufacturer’s World Championship points.
For COTA, the THOR Team will field its established driver pairings. Valkyrie #007 will be driven by Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble, both making their COTA debut, while Valkyrie #009 returns with Marco Sørensen, three-time FIA WEC GT champion, and Alex Riberas, who regards the circuit as his personal favourite.
“This will be my first time racing at COTA, so I’m really looking forward to discovering the circuit,” said Gamble. “We’ve improved every time we have raced with Valkyrie, and hopefully we can get ourselves into the top ten this weekend.” Tincknell added, “After Sao Paulo, we’re feeling fresh and positive. The long straights in Austin suit us well, and our aim is to continue our progress and challenge for strong positions.”
Sørensen and Riberas echoed the optimism, citing the track’s combination of high-speed sections and heavy braking zones as a perfect test for the Valkyrie’s capabilities. Team Principal Ian James summed up the outlook succinctly: “We focus on incremental progress with each outing. Our aim at COTA is to execute flawlessly and secure a top-ten finish in the Hypercar class.”
Adding to Aston Martin’s presence at the Lone Star Le Mans, the Vantage GT3 returns to COTA – the venue where it achieved its maiden WEC victory in 2024. Sharing its architecture with the brand’s celebrated production sportscar, the Vantage GT3 is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 and has consistently proven competitive, including a class victory in IMSA at Watkins Glen, the 2025 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, and a podium at the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring.
This year, Ian James, alongside Zach Robichon and Mattia Drudi in the #27, will look to replicate last year’s triumph, while Racing Spirit of Léman fields Derek DeBoer, Eduardo Barrichello, and Aston Martin works driver Valentin Hasse-Clot in the #10 Vantage GT3. Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, remarked, “COTA has always been a circuit that showcases the capabilities of our cars. We see no reason why both Vantage GT3 entries shouldn’t be competing for strong results this weekend.”
The Lone Star Le Mans kicks off at 13:00 local time (-6 BST) on Sunday, 7 September, with final practice, qualifying, and the race available live via FIA WEC TV and selected national broadcasters.
With Valkyrie and Vantage GT3 on track, Aston Martin looks set to deliver a weekend of high-speed spectacle, engineering brilliance, and racing drama on the streets of Austin – a fitting celebration for the marque’s enduring motorsport legacy.
