It's still named Valkyrie, but this track-only version looks different, is aerodynamically extreme, and is targeted to be competitive at Le Mans. Last week we reported that, in addition to suing one of its Swiss dealers over deposits for the forthcoming Valkyrie, Aston Martin had also canceled the original proposal to build a track-only version to be called the AMR Pro and was to replace it with another variant.
It turns out we were half right on the second point: Aston has confirmed it will be sticking with AMR Pro branding, but applying it to a car that is substantially different from the original proposal, with an all-new aerodynamic kit and the loss of the regular Valkyrie's hybrid system.
The idea for a circuit-spec version of the Aston/Red Bull Racing hypercar predates the arrival of the Valkyrie name, with designer Adrian Newey promising one when he first told us about the project in 2016 and also promising it would be as fast around a racetrack as an LMP1 Le Mans endurance racer. Aston then showed a concept version at the 2018 Geneva auto show that lacked headlights and mirrors and had a low-mounted wing at the back.
Behind the scenes, Aston, Red Bull, and motorsport specialist Multimatic were already working on what was intended to become a racing Valkyrie that would compete in the proposed Le Mans hypercar class. That project was canceled last year, but now Aston has taken many of the lessons learned from it—especially aerodynamic ones—and applied them to the track-only Valkyrie.
The car promises to be substantially different from the roadgoing Valkyrie. Aston says its wheelbase has been stretched by 15.0 inches, with the huge front splitter and rear-hung wing adding 10.5 inches to the overall length. Front and rear track widths have increased by 3.8 and 4.5 inches, respectively. Aston claims the AMR Pro will be capable of producing twice as much downforce as the road-legal car, suggesting a peak of up to 8000 pounds of aerodynamic assistance, based on the figures the company has claimed for the regular car. That will enable it to achieve up to 3 g's of lateral acceleration and to deliver on Newey's performance promise: Aston says the car is on track to be capable of managing a 3:20 lap of the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit. For reference, the fastest lap of the Toyota that won the race last year was a 3:19.76.
The revised AMR Pro now won't be using the hybrid system that Aston has developed for the regular car. This will save an unspecified amount of weight but also reduces the total power output from the original proposal of at least 1160 horsepower to the 1000 horsepower that the Cosworth-developed 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V-12 engine produces by itself (while revving to a dizzying 11,000 rpm). Other mass reduction measures over the standard Valkyrie will include even lighter carbon bodywork, carbon suspension wishbones, and Perspex glazing.
Aston has also decided to increase the size of the production run, saying it now plans to build 40 of the AMR Pro, plus two prototypes; the original proposal was for 25 cars. Buyers will also get the chance to attend special Valkyrie-only track days at international race circuits around the world, where they will be able to establish who is best able to handle what seems likely to be one of the fastest non–race cars in the world. There remains no official word on pricing, but don't figure on getting any change back from $3.5 million. The company says that deliveries will finally happen in the last quarter of this year.
-by Amaan Attar
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