Aston Martin Valkyrie Set for Evo Joker Upgrades

Photo: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

The Aston Martin Valkyrie is set to undergo updates for the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship seasons according to Heart of Racing team principal Ian James, who said they are evaluating “different options.”

The V12-powered LMH-based prototype, which debuted last year and scored its first podium finish in last year’s WeatherTech Championship season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans, has made continual gains, particularly as of late in WEC competition.

However, with the majority of the Hypercar competitors having all elected to make updates per the FIA, ACO and IMSA’s permitted Evo joker usage, which allows manufacturers up to five jokers through the 2027 seasons.

An addition two jokers, meanwhile, will become available for use in the 2028 and 2029 seasons.

The Valkyrie, along with the new-for-2026 Genesis GMR-001, are understood to be the only active Hypercar/GTP cars that have yet to take a joker.

“We’re still working through what we can do and how we can improve the car,” James told Sportscar365 during Friday’s scrutineering for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“Obviously the whole field has moved on quite a lot with a lot of jokers being introduced this year.

“It looks like that’s the direction we’re going to have to follow.”

While the WEC no longer publishes Balance of Performance figures since the start of this season, the Valkyrie has traditionally been running at the class’ minimum weight of 1030 kg, and at or near the maximum power output of 520 kW.

This has been the case in recent WeatherTech Championship races.

When asked in what areas Aston Martin and the team are currently investigating, James said they’re “evaluating different options.”

“We’re definitely going to have to try and improve the car a little bit, just the way the class is going,” he said.

Next weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will mark the Valkyrie’s second outing in the French endurance classic, after the team got both cars to the finish last year.

A total of four Heart of Racing entries will be in the race for the first time, with the addition of a second WEC season-long Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo in LMGT3.

“I think [there’s] cautious optimism on the GT program,” said James, who serves as one of the drivers in the No. 27 entry.

“We’ve been a feature towards the front ever since we started the program. Hopefully that will continue here.

“It’s going to be tough in Hypercar. But we’ve moved on a long way since last year. We’re hoping for a strong result.”

James spoke highly of WEC rookie Gray Newell, who has taken the FIA Bronze-rated driver seat in the new No. 23 entry this season off the heels of multiple seasons in SRO America competition, both in GT3 and GT4-spec Astons.

“It’s been great,” said James. “He’s surprised a lot of people at the level he’s driving at. His race pace has been very strong so far this year.

“But it’s a lot to come into this environment and perform. But he’s done great. He deserves to be here.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John