Aston Martin in Sebring to build on Qatar's foundations

THEAston Martin Valkyrie has officially been a racing car since February 28, the date of its participation in the 1812 km of Qatar, the opening round of the 2025 season of the World Championship ofEnduranceThe prototype from the Gaydon brand had a complicated start at Losail, with the retirement of the n°007 and an arrival 23 laps behind the Ferrari victorious for the n°009. The main thing for the British manufacturer was nevertheless to lay the foundations of its program, which will see another important step this weekend with its debut in IMSA for the 12 Hours of Sebring. Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis, who will be the drivers for the entire season across the Atlantic, will be joined by Alex Riberas in the No. 23 car, which will be painted blue.

« Sebring this year is a very important event for us, even more so than usual, and it will be the first IMSA race for the Valkyrie, which is incredibly exciting, says Ross Gunn. Of course, we're currently on a very steep learning curve, but everyone is working very hard to get the maximum performance out of the car. I'm really looking forward to it. It will be a huge challenge, both physically and mentally, because Sebring is one of the toughest races, but that's precisely what we're training hard for. »

« I'm looking forward to Sebring for the first IMSA race of the Valkyrie program and the start of my full season with Ross, adds De Angelis. We learned a lot, as drivers and as a team, during our debut in WEC in Qatar a few weeks ago, and that will help us in our progression. Sebring is an iconic venue, and competing there in the main class is something I could only dream of a short while ago. It will definitely be a special weekend. »

In addition to facing an even longer race than in Qatar, the Valkyrie will have to face a very different layout, as it will have to compete on the bumpy tarmac of the former military airfield, as opposed to the smooth surface of the Qatari circuit. We all know the challenges that Sebring will impose on us, both in terms of the track and the level of competition, explains Adam Carter, head of Aston Martin's Endurance program. This is a crucial test for the Valkyrie, and every kilometer covered helps accumulate data and improve our understanding of the car, as we build on the lessons learned from our debut in Qatar. »

If the Aston Martin Valkyrie passes this test without any major problems, it will bode well for the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 11-15).

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