The roar of a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter Cosworth V12 spinning past 10,000 RPM is the purest piece of theater on the modern endurance grid. Yet, beauty and noise alone don’t win championships when competing against hyper-efficient, hybrid-assisted factory powerhouses.
Aston Martin THOR Team’s Valkyrie AMR-LMH is stepping into its second phase of evolution with a comprehensive, highly visible update package.
The Valkyrie AMR-LMH “Evo” Upgrade
Aston Martin took to Silverstone Circuit to put an updated, camouflage-wrapped development mule of the Valkyrie AMR-LMH through its paces. Driven by factory pilots Ross Gunn and Harry Tincknell, the test marked the physical evaluation for what is expected to be a formal “Evo Joker” homologation update for upcoming campaigns.
VALKYRIE AMR-LMH "EVO" PACKAGE FOCUS
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| • Rear Aero Restructure: Entirely reworked rear wing profile & |
| revised endplate flow channels to stabilize pitch sensitivity. |
| • Underbody Extraction: Sculpted diffuser exit layout designed |
| to clean up rear tire wake without adding drag. |
| • Engine Calibration: Fine-tuned throttle mapping on the non- |
| hybrid Cosworth V12 to improve traction off slow corners. |
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Because the Valkyrie remains the only Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) operating without a hybrid system, managing rear tire degradation while matching the instantaneous electric torque of its competitors out of low-speed turns is critical. The “Evo” aero package aims to broaden the car’s dynamic setup window across varying track temperatures.
Aston Martin THOR Team: Driver Lineup
Operated by the Heart of Racing squad under the Aston Martin THOR Team banner, the brand maintained continuity across its driver roster for its second WEC campaign:
- #007 Valkyrie AMR-LMH:
- Harry Tincknell (GBR) & Tom Gamble (GBR) (Full Season)
- Supported by: Ross Gunn (GBR) for long-distance endurance rounds.
- #009 Valkyrie AMR-LMH:
- Alex Riberas (ESP) & Marco Sørensen (DEN) (Full Season)
- Supported by: Roman De Angelis (CAN) for endurance events.
The continuity is paying off. Following a breakthrough P4 finish at the 6 Hours of Spa, the team logged its first double-points finish at the 6 Hours of São Paulo (P6 and P9), proving the V12 contender is steadily migrating into upper-midfield threat status.
WEC Hypercar Manufacturers’ Standings Top 3
While Aston Martin continues its march forward (currently sitting 6th in the Manufacturers’ standings with 40 points), the battle at the front of the Hypercar World Championship remains tightly fought.
2026 FIA WEC HYPERCAR MANUFACTURERS' TOP 3
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| POS | MANUFACTURER | TOTAL POINTS |
+-----+---------------------------+----------------+
| 1 | Porsche | 108 pts |
| 2 | Ferrari | 96 pts |
| 3 | Toyota | 88 pts |
+-----+---------------------------+----------------+
- Porsche (108 Points): Porsche Penske Motorsport continues to set the operational benchmark, capitalizing on bulletproof reliability and strategic mastery from the 963 platform.
- Ferrari (96 Points): Factory AF Corse remains well within striking distance. Despite severe BoP weight penalties hurting single-lap pace, sharp pit execution and strong performances keep Maranello in the hunt.
- Toyota Gazoo Racing (88 Points): The GR010 Hybrid remains an absolute race-pace monster, staying firmly locked in the championship fight through pure mechanical consistency.
