Latest news with #Hypercar
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
The Aston Martin Valkyrie LM Is Your Ticket To A Very Exclusive Club
The Valkyrie LM is a close relation of Aston Martin's Le Mans racer, itself based on the Valkyrie ... More street car. It might not be a race winner (yet), but the Aston Martin Valkyrie was undoubtedly the people's champion at last weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans – and now you can buy one of your own. Revealed in the run-up to this year's event, the Valkyrie LM represents the chance to own a car that, Astin Martin says, is very closely related to its Le Mans racer. It's powered by the same 6.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V12 engine that undoubtedly made the best noise at this year's race, and it shares the same vehicle dynamics and technology too. Limited to just 10 examples, the Valkyrie LM is a long way from being street-legal, as the standard Valkyrie is. Instead, purchasing this car unlocks the opportunity to take part in a series of track days, organized by Aston Martin as part of an event program launching in Q2 of 2026. Just 10 examples of the track-only hypercar will be built. Aston is creating what it calls 'a dedicated driver development program that is tailored to support, harness and optimize their driving ability and provide them with the ultimate topflight motorsport experience.' The company says this will remove the stress of owners organizing their own track days and running the car without factory support. Given the obvious wealth of such customers, Aston describes the Valkyrie LM ownership experience as one delivered on a 'fly-in-and-drive' basis, with every event managed by a team of professional engineers to help owners get the most out of their cars. There's even the option for simulator driver coaching between track sessions, and Aston says cars will be transported, maintained and stored by the company itself. Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin CEO, said, 'Valkyrie LM is an exquisite opportunity to be part of the most exclusive Aston Martin owners club in the world; a group who can immerse themselves in the purest and most comparable endurance driving experience, one that would otherwise only be available to our works drivers operating at the very limit of sports car racing's highest echelon.' The car uses the same 6.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V12 engine as the car that compete at this ... More year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. In a bid to ensure drivers get the most out of their new toys – and, one assumes, seek to avoid costly repair bills – Aston Martin added, 'clients will gain extra preparation through detailed track walks and classroom sessions before they are unleashed under one-on-one supervision. The Valkyrie LM's engineering team will also offer data and onboard video analysis to fully optimize the driving experience.' All that said, Aston Martin will allow customers to 'take full possession of their car' if they so wish, so it can live in pride of place in their garage at home, if preferred. There are a couple of key differences between the Valkyrie LM and the pair of racers Aston took to Le Mans this summer. Race ballast and series-regulation electronics are not fitted, since there are no rules to adhere to, and the cockpit interface has been modified for track day usage instead of professional motorsport. Buying the car gains access to exclusive track days with vehicle support and expert driving tuition ... More provided by Aston Martin. Aston also says torque sensors that manage power delivery during racing have been removed, in a bid to make the driving experience more customer-friendly. Although largely unchanged, the V12 engine has been recalibrated to run on regular fuel. Unsurprisingly, Aston Martin has not publically revealed a price for the Valkyrie LM. But given the standard road car costs from around $3.5 Million, the track special is sure to cost even more.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari contests reasons why #50 car was disqualified from Le Mans 24h
Ferrari has expressed its surprise with the disqualification of its #50 499P Hypercar from fourth position in the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours. A press release from the Scuderia on Tuesday put into perspective the arguments of the stewards, who argued that not only was the car not compliant with technical regulations but it was unsafe – due to the rear wing lacking four bolts – and had a potential performance advantage. Advertisement 'Given the design of the element, the absence of one or more of these components did not compromise the car's safety in any way,' Ferrari insisted. Performance-wise, stewards pointed out a 'a rear wing deflection of 52mm', which is about three and a half times higher than the regulatory maximal deflection of 15mm, as well as the fact that the #50 machine achieved its highest top speed on lap 380 out of 387 – implying the overly flexible rear wing enjoyed reduced drag and therefore generated more performance. Ferrari has disagreed in clearer terms: 'The subsequent loss of the remaining bolts during the final 37 minutes of the race provided no advantage in terms of performance or the final standings. 'The top speed of the #50 499P reported by the Stewards in their decision was recorded during the car's final seven laps while it was running in the slipstream of its sister car, the #51 499P.' Advertisement In the same release, the Scuderia reiterated its view that 'the incident in question offered no competitive advantage to the crew, nor did it compromise the safety of our drivers or that of other competitors', but steered clear of actually criticising stewardship and stated its 'full confidence' in the World Endurance Championship's regulations. Read Also: #50 Ferrari disqualified from Le Mans 24h over extreme wing deflection To read more articles visit our website.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Former F1 driver Kubica leads Ferrari to Le Mans 24 Hours win
DPA Berlin Former Formula One driver Robert Kubica has achieved the biggest success of his motorsport career as he led Ferrari to their third consecutive win at the traditional Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race. With the #83 Ferrari crew, Kubica crossed the finish line on Sunday to celebrate the win with team-mates Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye. 'It has been a long one. Le Mans has always been close. First three years I raced LMP2 but the amount of laps I have done in the top three positions in five Le Mans is like 70%. But I have finally won it and in a Hypercar,' the Polish driver said. 'We deserve it. Happy for Ferrari. Three years in a row with three different crews, it is amazing.' There was just one safety car during the entire race. Ferrari crew #51 were third, as Porsche prevented a podium sweep for the Italian team with second place. Kubica was active in F1 between 2006 and 2010, but suffered a life-threatening rallying accident in 2011. He was trapped in the car for more than an hour before rescue workers were able to remove him. The accident left him with a partially severed right arm and multiple fractures. But he made one of the most remarkable comebacks in motorsport history once he got a full-time racing seat with Williams in 2019, before ending his F1 stint as a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo 2020-2022. Since 2021, he has been competing in the World Endurance Championship.
News24
4 days ago
- Automotive
- News24
Ford assembles dream team for WEC Hypercar attack in 2027
World Endurance Racing is entering its golden era thanks to a set of technical regulations that have made the sport financially inviting to myriad manufacturers, including Aston Martin, Porsche, Toyota, Cadillac, Alpine, BMW, and Peugeot in the front-running Hypercar class. This is a far cry from 2017 when only Toyota and Porsche contested the overall win at iconic races like Le Mans. The recent attention and growth hasn't gone unnoticed by Ford Performance, who have been on their own motorsport quest lately, expanding their CV with participation at Dakar, Mustangs in GT3 racing and upcoming Formula One partnership with Red Bull's Formula One team. As of 2027, Ford Motor Company will return to the top tier of prototype sports car racing, hoping to recapture its previous success, which dates back to 1966 and 1969 when Ford secured four consecutive overall victories at Le Mans with the GT40. In the hours leading up to this year's Le Mans race, Ford announced its chassis partner, ORECA, and its programme lead, Dan Sayers, as the WEC Hypercar Program Manager. Sayers will join the Ford team from his current role as Program Director at Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Quickpic Class rules mandate that one of four manufacturers supply the chassis on which Ford can build its contender for the top step at Le Mans. With ORECA on board, the recipe for success is in good hands: ORECA has won ten of the last races at Le Mans and provides the chassis to three major manufacturers, including Alpine, in the same category. 'Bringing Ford back to the top class at Le Mans has always been a dream for many of us, including our Executive Chair Bill Ford,' said Ford Motor Company president and CEO Jim Farley. 'To partner with ORECA is a proud moment for Ford. We are returning to Le Mans to win and aren't keeping that a secret. It will be exactly 56 years since we last took the top step of the overall podium on Sunday. That is long enough. In 2027, we are coming with the same level of expectation, and we are entrusting ORECA to help us take on Ferrari and the other top-class teams as we did in the 1960s.' 'The chassis partner and the programme head for any major factory programme are foundational elements,' said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance. 'ORECA and Dan Sayers give us the right platform to build this entire programme. We have all been working closely since these decisions were made, and every step has proven correct. We are two years away from sitting on the grid at Le Mans with our Ford WEC Hypercar programme, and we now have two of the key building blocks for a successful return to prototype racing at this great race.' Ford's next motorsport undertaking will be with the electrified Mach-E – dubbed Super Mach E - taking on Pikes Peak on 22 June.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari Runs 1-2-3 in 24 Hours of Le Mans at Six-Hour Mark
As the sun sets around the circuit and the 24 Hours of Le Mans enters its short night, Ferrari has put themselves in the optimal position to complete their three-peat, with all three entries running 1-2-3 in the Hypercar category. They leading hypercars completed 97 laps in the opening six hours. If Ferrari wins three in a row, it will be the first time since the Italian company has won three or more in a row since it was bested by Ford in 1966, ending a six-year streak of wins for the prancing horse. The No. 6 Porsche Penske runs fourth after becoming the lead Porsche after its sister car, the No. 5, lost momentum after losing the lead to the Ferrari in the third hour. Antonio Fuoco took the lead in the No. 50 Ferrari 499P for the first time two hours and 35 minutes into the race by passing Mathieu Jaminet in the No. 5 Porsche Penske through Indianapolis corner. From here, Fuoco's fellow Ferrari drivers would join him up front en route to a Ferrari 1-2-3 at the six-hour mark. After Mathieu lost second place, Porsche made the team decision to switch the No. 5 and No. 6, sending Laurens Vanthoor after the leading Ferraris. Toyota Gazoo Racing No. 8 runs fifth ahead of the No. 6 Porsche Penske. After starting on the pole, the Cadillac Hertz Team Jota No. 12 finds itself in eighth place. The Peugeot No. 94 and BMW M Team WRT No. 10 round out the top ten. At the six-hour mark, the leaders are starting to shuffle through the pits again with their energy reversed at a minimal and driver changes are needed. The factory Ferraris pitted first, with the No. 83 AF Corse following a few laps later. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
