Aston Martin Valkyrie Set to Use “At Least” Two Jokers

Photo: Aston Martin

The updates to the Aston Martin Valkyrie are set to require “at least” two Evo jokers according to Heart of Racing team principal Ian James, who said the revised LMH-based car is now at a “90 percent definitive” stage of development.

The V12-powered prototype, which first began testing potential updates in August at Silverstone, has since completed additional testing at Circuit of The Americas and a two-day outing at Motorland Aragon.

A separate test car, meanwhile, will be out at Sebring International Raceway this week, followed by a final test at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta the following week according to James.

“I think this week we’ll run something that’s 90 percent definitive,” he told Sportscar365. “There are some aero changes for sure. There are some on the mechanical side too.”

James said there have been no weight reduction measures, with the car already able to meet the new 1020 kg baseline that was established by IMSA, at least, earlier this year.

When asked how many jokers he believes will be taken for the updates, James said: “I think it will be at least two.”

Per LMH and LMDh technical regulations, cars are able to utilize up to five jokers through 2027, with these set to be the first joker usages for this car.

James said he’s hopeful the updates, which have not yet been fully disclosed, will lead to an easier-to-drive non-hybrid prototype.

“In WEC we’ve been competitive,” said James. “In IMSA, it’s more down to where IMSA positions us rather than what we do with the car.

“But definitely the drivability and the consistency and the confidence it gives the drivers seems to have been improved.

“With confidence comes lap time over a stint.

“There will always be some limitations without the hybrid on the car in terms of what they use it for and the form of anti-lock braking and filling in power and all that stuff they engineer into it that we’ll never have that.

“But then we do have some advantages as well.

“I’m hopeful that it will be a good step forward in terms of what the guys like to drive and not coming out [of the cars] as white in the face.”

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