Aston Martin and Le Mans

With another year of Le Mans having just gone by, we thought it was a good time to reflect upon the history along with provide you with some amazing Le Mans Valkyrie facts!

For nearly a century, Aston Martin has been a formidable presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since its debut in 1928, AM has competed in 54 editions, securing 19 class victories and one iconic overall win, cementing its legacy as a symbol of performance, craftsmanship, and racing heritage. This storied history, marked by triumphs, innovation, and resilience, continues to inspire Aston Martin’s pursuit of excellence on and off the track today.

Early Years: Laying the Foundation (1928–1950s)
Aston Martin first entered Le Mans in 1928 with two AM415 ‘Internationals,’ though both retired early. The 1930s saw steady progress, with a fifth-place finish and class win in 1933 by Pat Driscoll and Clifton Penn-Hughes. Despite interruptions from World War II, Aston Martin returned in 1949, fielding six cars, two of which finished seventh and eleventh. The early 1950s brought further success, including a third-place overall finish in 1951 by Lance Macklin and George Abbecasis. The following year George was awarded the Aston Martin franchise at HWM!

The pinnacle of this era came in 1959, when Aston Martin achieved its only overall victory at Le Mans. The DBR1, designed by Ted Cutting and powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six, was driven to glory by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori, with another DBR1 finishing second for a 1-2 finish. This triumph, 25 laps ahead of the third-placed car, also secured the World Sportscar Championship, a historic milestone during a Ferrari-dominated era.

Much like England winning the World Cup in 1966, us Aston Martin fans still like to go on about the 1959 Le Mans victory!

Mid-Century Challenges and Revival (1960s–1990s)
The 1960s and 1970s were quieter for Aston Martin at Le Mans, with sporadic entries and no major successes as the company focused on road car production. The 1980s saw a brief resurgence, including a seventh-place overall finish in 1982. However, it was the early 2000s that marked a bold return to endurance racing, driven by Aston Martin’s renewed commitment to motorsport under David Brown’s legacy.

Modern Era: GT Dominance (2005–2020)
Aston Martin Racing (AMR) re-entered Le Mans in 2005 with the DBR9, a GT1-class contender. The team’s debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring that year resulted in a victory, setting the stage for a remarkable run. In 2007, the DBR9, adorned in the iconic Gulf livery, won the GT1 class, defeating Corvette Racing. The following year, AMR repeated the feat, securing back-to-back GT1 class wins, a milestone not achieved since the 1950s.

The introduction of the Vantage GTE in 2012 further solidified Aston Martin’s GT prowess. The Vantage GTE became the company’s most successful race car, earning four Le Mans class wins between 2014 and 2020. In 2014, the #95 Vantage GTE triumphed in the LMGTE Am class, followed by a 2017 victory in the LMGTE Pro class with Darren Turner, Jonathan Adam, and Daniel Serra. The 2020 race was a high point, with Aston Martin winning both LMGTE Pro and Am classes—the first time the marque claimed both GT categories in a single race. The #97 Vantage GTE, driven by Alex Lynn, Maxime Martin, and Harry Tincknell, delivered a thrilling Pro class win, while TF Sport’s #90 car took Am honours. This double victory also clinched the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) manufacturers’ title.

Hypercar Era: The Valkyrie AMR-LMH (2025–Present:)

2025 was a very special year for Aston Martin in endurance racing as not only did they have a presence in the GT3 class with Vantage, it was the first 24hr outing for the Valkyrie in the hypercar class.

Designed by Adrian Newey and powered by a detuned 6.5-liter V12, the Valkyrie, run by The Heart of Racing team, debuted with striking aesthetics and a non-hybrid powertrain—a rarity in modern endurance racing. While not contending for victory in its inaugural year, both cars finished the 24-hour race without major issues, marking a promising start.

The #009 car, driven by Marco Sørensen, Alex Riberas, and others, even qualified for Hyperpole, showcasing potential. This return signals Aston Martin’s ambition to challenge for overall wins in the future, building on its storied Le Mans heritage.

The Heart Of Racing Team is owned by Gabe Newell.Gabe is an incredible gent that is part owner of the Valve Corporation. Worth a look, if you don’t know them. Thank you to Gabe for making this happen. It was incredible to see and hear Valkyrie driven in anger at such a special race.

To celebrate, we are going to drop a wide and varied array of Le Mans 24 hours racing-related facts for your delight. This also includes some Valkyrie vs Vantage stats:

Number of gear changes per lap – 76 (Vantage GT3 is 66)

Number of tyres used per car – 56 (Vantage GT3 is 60)

Amount of time per lap spent on brakes – 16% (Vantage GT3 is the same)

Litres of fuel used per car – 3,000 (Vantage GT3 is the same)

Amount of time per lap spent at full throttle – 72% (Vantage GT3 is 75%)

Max G Force when cornering – 3.32 G (Vantage GT3 is 2.3G)

Max G Force when accelerating – 1.33 G (Vantage GT3 is 0.7G)

Max G Force when braking – 3.1 G (Vantage GT3 is 2.7G)

Max speed – 208 mph (Vantage GT3 is 174mph)

Max brake temp – 850 deg C (Vantage GT3 is 600 deg C)

Running tyre temp – 90 dec C

Number of technicians per car – 8

Number of engineers per car – 5

Time for pit stop – 50 secs