Aston Martin unveils two drivers for the Hypercar category

The programme Aston Martin Valkyrie LMh is taking shape. After taking to the track near Daytona for pre-season testing of theIMSA, the British manufacturer revealed this Thursday, November 21, the names of two drivers who will have the pleasure of driving the English Hypercar in the World Championship.Endurance in 2025. The car will be used in both IMSA and WEC by the British team The Heart of Racing (THOR).

here. We. Go.

Aston Martin THOR Team confirms its first two drivers for the 2025 @FIAWEC season.@HarryTincknell and @AlexRiberas will race the stunning new Valkyrie hypercar challenger.

Discover more: https://t.co/G3b8LWuWjL#AstonMartinRacing #valkyrie #WEC pic.twitter.com/OoZEZ1GZWr

— Aston Martin Racing (@AMR_Official) November 21, 2024

As announced during the summer by AUTOhebdo, Harry Tincknell will be one of the lucky ones. The 33-year-old Briton has solid experience of the WEC and particularly of 24 Hours of Le Mans, an event where he appeared 11 times for two category victories: in 2014 in LM P2 (with Jota alongside Simon Dolan and Oliver Turvey) and in 2020 in GTE Pro. During this second success, in the company of Alex Lynn and Maxime Martin, the Englishman from Exeter already represented the Gaydon brand. In 2025, he will be at the wheel of the n°007, a number obviously a tribute to the registration number of the wise James Bond, whose eponymous hero is used to driving an Aston Martin.

Harry Tincknell will be a regular driver at Aston Martin in 2025 – Photo: Aston Martin

« It is an absolute honour to return to Aston Martin for the Valkyrie programme, Tincknell says. I think the car will be very popular with the fans thanks to its stunning looks and the incredible sound of the V12 engine. It was exciting to be involved in the early development tests and the car has a very strong DNA. I am very proud of the hard work everyone has put in so far as we prepare for the first race. Everyone at the Aston Martin THOR team has
made me feel welcome and I know I am joining a professional team. »

Aston Martin Valkyrie will not be at the 24 2025 Hours of Daytona

The other driver selected to take the wheel of the Valkyrie LMH in the World Endurance Championship is Alex Riberas. It is anything but a surprise to find the 30-year-old Spaniard here, a true pillar of The Heart of Racing team since 2020, and who has already had the opportunity to test the Valkyrie LMH in Bahrain and then in Daytona in recent weeks. He will be at the wheel of the second Valkyrie entered in the WEC, the n°009, the same one worn by the Aston Martin DBR9 during its two victories in the GT1 category of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2008 and 2009.

« It is a great honour to be chosen as the pilot for such an exciting project, Riberas says. I have been part of The Heart of Racing for 10 years and to be able to continue my journey with them at the pinnacle of endurance racing is simply a dream come true, as is representing such an iconic brand as Aston Martin, with such a remarkable history. It is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the most spectacular car I have ever driven, and it sounds incredible, so to be able to share it with motorsport fans around the world is something I am really looking forward to. »

The full line-ups for the WEC and IMSA will be announced later. Finally, as expected in recent weeks, Aston Martin has decided to skip the 24 Hours of Daytona. The Valkyrie LMH's competitive debut will therefore take place at the 1812 km of Qatar, the opening round of the 2025 World Championship season, on February 28.