Newey's WEC car revealed: One to eye for Verstappen and Alonso for Le Mans?
F1 News
- Kimberley Hoefnagel
Aston Martin have presented their car for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this Wednesday: The Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercar. With Adrian Newey as co-designer, the British team hope to have a shot at winning the famous 24h of Le Mans for the first time since 1959.
The Valkyrie was announced in 2016 as a collaboration between Red Bull and then-principal sponsor Aston Martin Lagonda. Adrian Newey, together with Miles Nurnberger, were involved from the start as the two lead designers. Even after leaving Red Bull Racing, Newey remained involved with perfecting the Valkyrie car.
Over the years, the Briton talked several times about his passion and pride for the project. The only car that is based on the the road-legal hypercar will compete in both the WEC and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next season, as it is also the very first car built for the FIA's so-called 'Hypercar' regulations, which means it can compete in both championships.
"This is a proud moment for Aston Martin," Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda said. He also considers it a great honour that Aston Martin will once again compete for the 24h of Le Mans with the Aston Martin THOR Team, as their two hypercars will run with the numbers 007 and 009.
"To be returning to the fight for overall honours at the 24 Hours of Le Mans exists at the very core of our values and marks a key milestone in our motor racing heritage. As the only hypercar born from the road to challenge at the top of sports car racing in both the WEC and IMSA, the Valkyrie is an embodiment of our enduring sporting ethos, one that has defined the brand for more than century," he concluded.
The article continues below the photos.
Max Verstappen in the Valkyrie?
Max Verstappen has mentioned it several times that he would like to compete at the 24h of Le Mans. He would also like to do that together with Fernando Alonso, and they are still looking for a third driver. Given the relationship with Newey and Alonso, he might just make his debut at the event with the Valkyrie. Time will tell whether Verstappen would like to drive in WEC with this team, and when that would happen.
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi
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