Aston Martin have revealed their Valkyrie AMR Pro, a radical development of the already radical Valkyrie.
The AMR Pro is, effectively, a redesign of the Valkyrie Hypercar, initially intended for service in the FIA WEC, derived from the the original Adrian Newey design. It is a fundamentally different car from the originally ‘revealed’ AMR Pro version of the Valkyrie shown at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show (pictured below).
The AMR Pro is described as being “initially made in collaboration between Aston Martin, designer Adrian Newey, Red Bull Advanced Technologies, and engineering partner Multimatic.”
But now, instead of a car bound for a race programme, the car is set for a future as a limited production (40 cars plus 2 prototypes) track only version with the race car design enhanced even further to exploit the fact that the car no longer needs to comply with either the aerodynamic, or power delivery limits that would have been imposed by the racing regulations.
The changes come courtesy of a continuing the technology partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT).
The Valkyrie AMR Pro uses a modified version of the Valkyrie chassis which is 380mm longer in wheelbase and 96mm wider in track at the front; 115mm at the rear.
The car’s aero package adds an additional 266mm in length, and delivers twice the amount of downforce than the Valkyrie road car, the Valkyrie AMR Pro will achieve lateral acceleration of more than 3G.
In pursuit of the lightest weight and fastest lap times, the Valkyrie AMR Pro does not feature the planned battery-electric hybrid system but does sport a highly modified version of the Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine. Revving to 11,000rpm, on-target to develop 1000bhp.
The car also features ultra-lightweight carbon fibre bodywork, carbon suspension wishbones and Perspex windscreen and side windows.
The emergence of the car has though caused some controversy due to the accompanying publicity materials making considerable play both of the brand’s Le Mans heritage, and of a potential 3:20 lap time around the Le Mans circuit, this despite the fact that the brand withdrew from the FIA WEC and cancelled the Hypercar programme as a part of the package of financial expediency that came with the Lawrence Stroll-backed rescue package that also saw the factory GTE motorsport programmes parked, Aston Martin instead rebranding the (Stroll-owned) Racing Point team as Aston Martin Cognizant.
The Valkyrie Hypercar programme is cited by many involved in the Hypercar class as the key to the current specification of the class, the increased minimum weight over the initially envisaged levels a product of incorporating the ‘roadcar’-based nature of the project, a legacy that several prominent parties involved in the class regard as a significant negative.
Sadly it seems that the WEC will never be graced by the Valkyrie, and judging by the look of the AMR Pro, that is to be regretted, truly a car visually worthy of the ‘Hypercar’ moniker.
All cars will be left-hand drive. First deliveries are scheduled to commence in Q4 2021.
