24h Le Mans
For its return to the top level of endurance after 14 years away from the scene, the Aston Martin THOR Team knew that 2025 would be a season-long learning curve. The Valkyrie, driven by its naturally aspirated V12 engine and the support of fans, has laid down the foundations of an ambitious programme for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. All eyes are now focused on 2026 where the margin for progress is huge.
The Aston Martin THOR Team entered two Valkyries, numbered 007 and 009, for its début FIA WEC campaign. The #007 was placed in the hands of Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble and Ross Gunn, while Alex Riberas, Marco Sørensen and Roman De Angelis lined up in the #009. The three watchwords for this inaugural season were clear: learn, understand and progress. The US-based team followed the plan to the letter.
From the opening laps of the Prologue, the Valkyrie earned a reputation as one of the most emblematic machines on the grid. The roar of its naturally aspirated V12 engine delighted hardcore petrolheads and this popularity offered a powerful lever in supporting the competitive development of the programme.
In finishing in eighth place in the Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship, Aston Martin hardly pulled up any trees but the lessons learned from the campaign abound. The #009 Valkyrie put in the best performances with a P5 at the 6 Hours of Fuji before signing off with a P7 at the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain, to conclude the season on an encouraging note. Both Hypercars showed reliability at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by reaching the chequered flag in 12th and 14th position respectively. Grounds for satisfaction for Marco Sørensen: "Finishing the race was our mission. Of course, we would have liked more. But the most important thing is that we made it to the end with both cars, without any issues. They ran all the way through, even if not very fast. I’m proud of the team. For a first Le Mans, it’s a success. And honestly, I wasn’t expecting that."
In the final race in Bahrain, the #009 delivered a tremendous battle for pole position and a potential podium. A performance hailed by Team Principal Ian James: "To come to a place here where we’re genuinely competing for pole position and the podium shows what a good job everyone’s done and I can’t wait for 2026 to come around so we can keep up that momentum." Alex Riberas added: "We are getting better in the small details and when we learn how to race against the competition more, we will be even better. Whether the car will be ready to fight for victories at the beginning of next year is not for me to say, but I know that it is more a matter of when than if."
Aston Martin will be ready to step up a gear next season. The battle will be even more intense against Alpine, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Toyota and newcomers Genesis. The car has shown its reliability, but performance must now follow. The task is a huge one, but there is a positive dynamic and obvious potential.
With solid foundations, a car with a strong identity and an upwardly mobile team, Aston Martin can look forward to 2026 with ambition. The Valkyrie has written its opening chapter. The next could see it move closer to the front of the pack and, in due course, the ultimate dream: racing to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
