Road America, Wisconsin – 4 August 2025
Aston Martin’s revolutionary Valkyrie hypercar took a major step forward in its debut IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign this weekend, claiming a hard-fought sixth place at the Motul Sportscar Grand Prix of Road America. The result marks Valkyrie’s best IMSA finish to date, further extending an unbroken points-scoring run in its maiden North American season.
In a field packed with seasoned competitors and manufacturers boasting years of IMSA experience, Valkyrie stood out—not just as the only car on the grid built to Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) regulations, but also as the first road-legal-based hypercar competing in the IMSA GTP class. No other hypercar this season has dared to contest both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)—yet Valkyrie is doing just that, setting a new benchmark for ambition and performance across endurance racing’s top global stages.
Building on Momentum
Piloted by Aston Martin works drivers Ross Gunn (GBR) and Roman De Angelis (CAN), the #23 Valkyrie run by the Aston Martin THOR team impressed throughout the weekend. It set the second-fastest time in Friday’s free practice, before Gunn put the car 10th on the grid in a closely contested GTP qualifying session—just 0.7 seconds off pole on the demanding 4.05-mile circuit.
Tactical acumen came to the fore during the race, which featured four Full Course Yellow periods. THOR chose not to pit during the first caution, a decision that vaulted Valkyrie into competitive track position. De Angelis seized the opportunity in the second half of the race, climbing as high as fifth and holding off seasoned rivals during the final green-flag stint. Ultimately, the British hypercar crossed the line sixth—just 16.5 seconds behind the winner—in what many are calling a breakthrough moment for the fledgling programme.
Driver & Team Reactions
“This was a very strong weekend for the car and the team,” said Ross Gunn. “We’re obviously still not where we want to be, but clearly it’s evident the progress we’re making. This felt like a breakout race for us.”
His teammate Roman De Angelis echoed the sentiment: “I really enjoyed racing wheel-to-wheel with guys who’ve been at the front for years. This was our best result so far, and I can’t wait to build on this at Indianapolis.”
Team Principal Ian James praised the execution and evolution of the programme: “This was a landmark result. We were in the mix, racing hard, and the crew and drivers delivered. There’s more to come.”
A Programme on the Rise
Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, highlighted the broader significance of the result. “We’ve always known the potential was in the car. A run of six consecutive top-ten finishes since Sebring is no small feat. Against the world’s best, our programme is still young—but the signs are very encouraging.”
Valkyrie’s dual-championship campaign remains one of the most audacious in modern motorsport. As the only LMH car straddling both IMSA and WEC, it offers a real-world testbed for Aston Martin’s ultimate fusion of road and race technology.
Eyes on Indianapolis
Next up is the Battle on the Bricks at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Valkyrie will contest the six-hour endurance race from 19–21 September. With momentum firmly on its side, Aston Martin is poised to continue its upward trajectory—on American soil and beyond.
Aston Martin Valkyrie IMSA 2025 Season at a Glance:
- Debut: 1812km of Qatar (FIA WEC), February 2025
- IMSA Debut: 12 Hours of Sebring, March 2025
- Top Ten Finishes: 6 consecutive (including Road America)
- Best Finish: 6th (Road America, Round 8)
- Next Race: Battle on the Bricks, Indianapolis, 19–21 September
The journey of a hypercar reborn on track has only just begun. And Valkyrie is proving it belongs.
