Aston Martin Valkyrie gearing up to face Daytona competition for the first time

It’s easy to forget that the Aston Martin Valkyrie hasn’t yet taken on the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. Last year, the Heart of Racing team (THOR) sat out the IMSA opener and gave the V12 LMH prototype its North American debut at Sebring in March.

From then on, the car quickly became a fan favourite due to its striking aero package and ear-piercing engine notes. Results started to come in the second half of the season, too, when Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn finished sixth at Road America and then second at Petit Le Mans with Alex Riberas in the third chair.

The high banks at Daytona, though, pose a unique challenge in the IMSA season and a new challenge for the Valkyrie. It’s a circuit unlike any other on the calendar, and while it may not be the most physical or challenging from a driver’s perspective, it’s a big test of reliability and each team's operational capabilities to kick off the year.

So where should we place our expectations for the Valkyrie in its first crack at IMSA’s "Super Bowl?" After the Sanctioned Test in November and taking stock over the winter, Gunn acknowledges the team carries confidence into year two, but he believes everyone should remain realistic.

“It’s still important to be patient,” he explained to RACER when asked whether or not he feels the car’s first win is right around the corner. “As drivers, naturally, we’re very impatient; we want everything now. Being realistic, we don’t know where to start the year. 

“Of course, I would do anything to be on the top step next Sunday, but realistically, if we can be fighting for podiums again, we can hopefully unlock the victory naturally."

The Valkyrie looks like a car that's ready for a breakout season, yet still has a way to go before it can be considered a title contender in either the WEC or IMSA. There are clear areas that need work, such as software, kerb compliance and tire degradation. However, THOR's dual WEC/IMSA program has accelerated the car’s development and will continue to do so in 2026. Going from multiple seconds off the pace in Qatar to leading in Bahrain and finishing on the podium at Road Atlanta is proof of what's possible in a calendar year.

“We’ve picked up a lot of information about the car, the class last year," Gunn explained. "The (Sanctioned) test (in November) didn’t go completely to plan for us, but we did a lot of analysis over the winter that should put us in a good position for the next two weeks."

Might the various changes to the GTP class play to Aston Martin’s advantage here in Florida and hand THOR a chance to spring a surprise? The new Michelin GTP tire is sure to throw up some variables. THOR’s driver crew is stable, while many others have been tweaked, and the Valkyrie is the only car that hasn’t received a performance update over the winter. 

On the face of it, that last point could be seen as a negative, but Aston Martin THOR team principal Ian James believes that the Valkyrie hasn’t maximized its potential yet, so naturally, developing updates isn’t a priority. Meanwhile, the competition may need time to learn the ins and outs of their tweaked packages.

“We’re looking forward to understanding a bit more about tire degradation because there will be a lot of double stints early on in the race,” Gunn added when asked about the greatest unknown for the team ahead of the Rolex 24. “To understand the degradation of the new tire will be critical for us here.

“I noticed a difference straight away (with warm up); it was quite clear here on my first out-lap with a cold car in the Sanctioned Test. Michelin has made a good step forward and that's positive for us. Some of the other drivers in other classes get fed up with all of us in GTP when they meet us on an out-lap, so hopefully you’ll see a change there.

“There’s just a lot of unknowns right now in terms of the competitive order. Where we’re going to stack up, we don’t have a clue, and we see that as a good thing.

"Key for us is to make the finish, as we only have one car. We’re going into it with that in mind.”