Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH Set for Qatar Race Debut

Photo: Drew Gibson/AMR

The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH will make its global race debut in February’s FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener in Qatar, with Aston Martin Racing and The Heart of Racing Team electing to skip the Rolex 24 at Daytona in favor of additional development time for the car.

As previously hinted by team principal Ian James to Sportscar365, the Le Mans Hypercar will instead make its WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

Confirmation of the launch schedule was made on Thursday alongside the naming of Alex Riberas and Harry Tincknell as its first two WEC drivers.

The Valkyrie is nearing the end of its test and development program, having covered more than 12,500 kms (7,700 miles) to date, including a recent Michelin tire test in Bahrain and last weekend’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway.

“We are reaching a critical juncture in the development of the Aston Martin Valkyrie, and to this point the car has passed all of the objectives and benchmarks we have set for it,” said Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport Adam Carter.

“Testing is one thing however, going racing quite another and we do not underestimate the formidable line-up of world class competition in the WEC Hypercar class and in IMSA’s GTP category.”

Drivers for the team’s WeatherTech Championship program have not yet been announced, although Riberas, Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis were at the wheel of the car in the most recent test.

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