Multimatic Linked to Aston Martin Hypercar Project

Photo: Aston Martin

Multimatic has emerged as the likely technical partner behind Aston Martin’s soon-to-be-announced Hypercar project for the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Multiple sources have indicated to Sportscar365 that the multinational engineering firm, which currently partners with both Ford and Mazda on motorsports projects, has been tasked with the build, development and technical support of the British manufacturer’s Valkyrie hypercar race program.

The Red Bull-backed effort is expected to be announced tomorrow in Le Mans.

Multimatic already holds close links to the the V12-powered hypercar road car, having been commissioned by Aston Martin with the build of the car’s chassis and body.

A total of 150 units are scheduled to be produced, at a price tag of $3.2 million each.

Larry Holt, Multimatic’s Chief Technical Officer, declined comment to Sportscar365 on the race program although confirmed their association with the production version of the Adrian Newey-designed hypercar.

“We are doing some engineering but it’s all around the chassis,” Holt said about the road car. “It’s a complicated chassis and we were sourced as the supplier of the chassis and body system.

“If they did something with it, it would have to use that chassis or may potentially need to be changed to be a racing car.”

Holt denied that he is personally involved in tomorrow’s announcement, which is expected to confirm a factory Hypercar program for Aston Martin utilizing a road-based version of the Valkyrie. 

“At this point, I’m there to listen to what they’re going to do,” Holt said.

Multimatic President and COO Raj Nair, meanwhile, told Sportscar365 last month they have the capacity for additional motorsports projects and are “pretty agnostic” on the future prototype regulations. 

Should Multimatic be confirmed as the technical leader, it would have beat out existing Aston Martin partner Prodrive, as well as HWA, which recently partnered with AF Racing for the R-Motorsport Vantage DTM program.

Aston Martin has repeatedly declined comment on the status of its Hypercar program, which has progressed in recent months following the change in regulations that allows for production-based hypercars into the yet-to-be-named class.

Sportscar365 understood the car will at least initially not utilize a hybrid system, thanks to a further concession in the rules.

Aston Team Operations Partner Unclear

It’s unclear if R-Motorsport, which had been heavily linked to Aston’s Hypercar ambitions, would operate the team or if that role could potentially also go to Multimatic, which currently handles the UK-based Ford Chip Ganassi Racing squad.

Multimatic’s factory race operations contract with Ford runs up following this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

R-Motorsport team principal Dr. Florian Kamelger, meanwhile, told Sportscar365 last month that a Hypercar program remains an ambition but wouldn’t confirm talks with Aston Martin on that subject.

“I think we all wait for a decision to be made in the near future by the ACO,” Kamelger said. “I never made a secret out of the fact that I want to eventually see R-Motorsport racing in Le Mans.

“It’s interesting to see what happens around the hypercar, GTP, or whatever. We’re ready.”

Red Bull Advanced Technologies CEO Christian Horner and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko were spotted at the track on Wednesday, although it’s understood Horner would be responsible for any Red Bull-backed motorsports program even outside of Formula 1.

Jake Kilshaw contributed to this report.

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