Valkyrie makes history as the only hypercar to contest both IMSA and WEC in 2025, with De Angelis and Gunn set to tackle the famed Californian street circuit.
8 April 2025, Long Beach, USA – A new chapter in Aston Martin’s hypercar saga is set to unfold this weekend as the jaw-dropping Valkyrie makes its IMSA sprint race debut in the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The legendary Californian street circuit, renowned for its tight turns and high-stakes racing, hosts round three of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – and it’s here that the Valkyrie will showcase its performance pedigree in a 100-minute thriller.
Following an impressive top-ten finish in its endurance racing debut at Sebring last month, the #23 Valkyrie – run by the works-backed Aston Martin THOR team – is poised to unleash its fury once again. At the wheel: Canadian Roman De Angelis, former IMSA GTD champion, and Briton Ross Gunn, who triumphed in the GTD Pro class at Long Beach in 2023. The duo brings a wealth of experience and synergy, having raced together in previous seasons with great success.
This marks another major milestone in Valkyrie’s competitive evolution. Not only is it the first-ever Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) created by Aston Martin, but it is also the only hypercar derived from a road-legal vehicle to enter the IMSA GTP category. Even more impressively, it is the only hypercar contesting both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2025 – a true dual-continent campaign that signals Aston Martin’s unwavering ambition in top-tier sportscar racing.
Building Momentum, Embracing Challenges
The Valkyrie’s competitive credentials are hard to ignore. Developed from the road-going marvel by Aston Martin and THOR, the racing variant features a lightweight carbon fibre chassis, and a howling 6.5-litre V12 engine capable of revving to 11,000rpm. While power is capped at 680bhp under hypercar regulations, the car retains its visceral presence and unmistakable performance DNA.
The Sebring 12 Hours debut proved more than just promising – it marked the first-ever points finish for a hypercar under IMSA regulations. Now, with valuable data in hand and extensive post-race testing complete, the team is ready to tackle the unique technical demands of Long Beach.
“It’s going to be the first time for Valkyrie on a street course,” said Ross Gunn. “Hearing the V12 echo off the buildings will be insane. It’s a short race, action-packed, and a great opportunity for us to keep improving.”
Roman De Angelis echoed the excitement: “Long Beach is always a standout. Sprint racing in the GTP class will be intense. Ross and I work really well together and we’re hungry to keep pushing the Valkyrie forward.”
A Broader Battle Across the Globe
While the Valkyrie takes centre stage on the streets of California, Aston Martin’s motorsport presence extends across continents this weekend.
In the GTD category at Long Beach, The Heart of Racing’s Vantage GT3 is in hot pursuit of its third consecutive podium. British drivers Tom Gamble and Casper Stevenson currently sit second in the championship after impressive finishes at Daytona and Sebring.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, six Vantage GT3s will contest the season-opening GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Paul Ricard. Returning teams such as Comtoyou Racing, Walkenhorst Motorsport, and the debut of Verstappen.com Racing under 2 Seas Motorsport, will fly the flag for Aston Martin in what is widely regarded as the most competitive GT-only series globally.
In Japan, D’station Racing kicks off its AUTOBACS Super GT campaign at Okayama. The Fuji-based team – which delivered the new Vantage GT3’s first international victory at Suzuka – returns with ambitions to secure a historic title for the British marque in the GT300 class.
“The Vantage GT3 is now in its second season and already proving to be a world-beater,” said Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport. “With our teams competing in Europe, North America and Asia this weekend, the strength of our platform and the depth of talent we’ve partnered with is more evident than ever.”
The Road Ahead
The Grand Prix of Long Beach marks another crucial data-gathering step in the Valkyrie’s development curve. With each outing, the Aston Martin THOR team moves closer to unlocking the hypercar’s full competitive potential.
“We’re on a steep but rewarding learning curve,” commented Ian James, Team Principal. “Long Beach offers a completely different environment to Sebring, but we’ve made significant strides in understanding the car thanks to extended testing and simulator work.”
This weekend isn’t just about points. It’s about positioning. About learning. About proving that Aston Martin belongs in the top tier of international sportscar racing – with a hypercar that blends technical ingenuity, road relevance, and undeniable theatre.
As Valkyrie’s V12 soundtrack roars through the urban canyons of Long Beach, it won’t just be a race. It’ll be a statement.
