Aston Martin reveals details of overhauled 1,000bhp Valkyrie AMR Pro
Aston Martin has revealed the 1000bhp Valkyrie AMR Pro, an 'extreme' track-only version of its new hypercar that sits lower, lighter and wider on the race track, approaching the performance of modern day Formula One machinery.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a limited production hybrid sports car collaboratively built by British automobile manufacturers Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing Advanced Technologies and other companies including Cosworth, Ricardo, Rimac Automobili, Multimatic, Alcon, Integral Powertrain Ltd, Bosch, Surface Transforms, Wipac, and Michelin.
The car was degsigned for the new Le Mans 24 Hours Hypercar class as a factory programme, alongside a limited road car version. However, the Hypercar programme was ditched after a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll bought shares of Aston Martin and decided to fully focus on the Formula One project.
Aston Martin has been developing a track-only variant of the Valkyrie called the Valkyrie AMR Pro that ditches the hybrid system and produces something in the range of 1,000 hp from its 6.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V-12 developed by Cosworth.
Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing Honda Chief Technical Officer, commented: “Once the Aston Martin Valkyrie was born, we discussed adapting it into a race car to contend for overall victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. There were several areas for consideration such as repositioning the engine and gearbox, as well as lengthening the wheelbase and optimizing the aerodynamics.
"The project was hugely enjoyable and quite far advanced before sadly the program was curtailed, but the mechanical design of the car lives on as the AMR Pro. Significantly modified from the road going version, the AMR Pro is effectively an Aston Martin Valkyrie on steroids. Its performance output is at a very high level, much higher than any other previous track-only car and indeed well in excess of a top class LMP car of today. It will be tremendously exciting to see the car hit the track and show its true potential," Newey concluded.
Christian Horner, CEO of Red Bull Racing Honda & Red Bull Advanced Technologies, added: “The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a sight to behold and from start to finish it has been incredible to witness Adrian and the Red Bull Advanced Technologies Team push the boundaries with Aston Martin and take Formula One standards of engineering excellence to the automotive industry.
"In the AMR Pro, we can see a further evolution of the work that was carried out on Aston Martin Valkyrie for the initial Le Mans 24 Hours entry, and just what is possible technically when you’re not playing by any rules,' Horner added.
