British hypercar continues top-10 streak as The Heart of Racing targets further gains in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
31 July 2025 – Road America, USA: As the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) enters its final stretch, all eyes turn to Wisconsin’s legendary Road America circuit, where Aston Martin’s revolutionary Valkyrie will aim to build on a string of strong performances. Fielded by the Aston Martin THOR Team, the Valkyrie hypercar returns to competition at the Motul Sportscar Grand Prix this weekend following five consecutive top-10 finishes, with drivers Ross Gunn (GBR) and Roman De Angelis (CAN) chasing a breakthrough result.
Having made its IMSA debut earlier this year at Sebring with a promising ninth-place finish, the Valkyrie – the first Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) to race in IMSA and the only one contesting both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) – has gone on to become one of the championship’s most talked-about entries. It has consistently proven its reliability and competitiveness, notably charging up to fifth at Watkins Glen before a late-race caution neutralised the team’s podium challenge.
“This is the business end of the season,” said Gunn, who famously claimed GTD Pro victory at Road America in 2023 driving a Vantage GT3. “We’ve tested here recently and the car felt strong. This track rewards strategy and race craft, so we need to be sharp. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made – now it’s about capitalising on it.”
De Angelis, back in the #23 Valkyrie after deputising in THOR’s Vantage GT3 at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, echoed Gunn’s optimism. “Road America is one of those classic American circuits where the GTP class really shines,” said the former GTD champion. “We’ve had a solid test, we’ve shown pace, and now we want results that reflect the work we’ve put in.”
Valkyrie, derived from the iconic road-legal model co-developed by Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, represents the pinnacle of performance engineering. Its IMSA-spec version features a carbon fibre monocoque and a highly-tuned 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, delivering over 1,000bhp in road trim but governed to 500kW (680bhp) under GTP rules. Its participation in both IMSA and WEC underscores Aston Martin’s return to top-tier international endurance racing for the first time since its American Le Mans Series successes in 2011.
“This car is progressing every time it hits the track,” said Ian James, Team Principal of Aston Martin THOR. “We saw what it could do at Watkins Glen, and our recent test at Road America gives us confidence we can take another step forward.”
Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, praised the team’s momentum. “To have top-10 finishes in every outing of our IMSA debut season is a testament to the car, the team, and the strategy. Road America is another traditional North American road course, and we’ll be applying all we’ve learned so far to push even further.”
Vantage GT3 Returns to Familiar Territory with Eyes on GTD Title
While Valkyrie headlines Aston Martin’s GTP campaign, the marque’s GTD-class effort continues apace with The Heart of Racing’s (THOR) #27 Vantage GT3. Returning to the cockpit alongside rising star Casper Stevenson (GBR) is Aston Martin works driver Tom Gamble (GBR), who missed the previous round due to WEC commitments.
Built on the acclaimed Vantage road car’s aluminium chassis and powered by a potent 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the latest Vantage GT3 continues its push for GTD championship glory. Stevenson currently sits third in the Drivers’ standings, with THOR also holding third in both the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ championships.
“Road America has been kind to us before,” said Gamble. “We know the car can deliver here, and the aim is to bring home maximum points to keep our title hopes alive.”
The track, located in Elkhart Lake, has previously seen Aston Martin triumph, with Ross Gunn and Alex Riberas taking a dominant win in the GTD Pro category in 2023. That history adds extra motivation for the THOR GTD crew heading into Sunday’s two-hour and 40-minute contest.
Double Assault on Road America
With both Valkyrie and Vantage GT3 in action, Aston Martin is set to mount a two-pronged charge at one of America’s most iconic racing venues. The Motul Sportscar Grand Prix at Road America begins at 14:10 local time (UTC-5) on Sunday, 3 August 2025. Fans around the globe can follow the action live via IMSA TV, the IMSA YouTube channel, and selected national broadcasters.
Whether chasing breakthrough success in GTP with the revolutionary Valkyrie or consolidating a championship push in GTD with the proven Vantage GT3, Aston Martin’s ambitions for Road America are clear: fight at the front, finish strong, and continue writing a bold new chapter in its endurance racing legacy.
