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Aston Martin Valkyrie LM Unveiled as the Ultimate Track Day Machine
The all-new Aston Martin Valkyrie is a track-only Le Mans hypercar that you can actually buy and drive.
Ever think of racing a Le Mans hypercar? Good news because you don’t need to go through the rigorous training or work hard to get an FIA Grade A license, as Aston Martin just made a publicly available version of its Le Mans hypercar (LMH), the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM. This track-only machine is virtually similar to its Le Mans twin, featuring the same V12 engine and carbon fibre monocoque chassis.
Despite the LM being free from the racing regulations, its 6.5-litre nat-asp V12 Cosworth engine still outputs 697 hp, which is far off from the 1,000 hp figure put out by its road-legal siblings. Similarly, said V12 engine is mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic sequential gearbox to help drive the rear wheels (RWD) at up to 338 km/h V-max, although no acceleration figures were published for now.
But expect the same face-ripping performance as any other blue-blooded LMH, as the Valkyrie LM tips the scale at only 1,030 kg, which is the same as its Le Mans twin. Given its 697 hp, AM claims the LM can pull 3.5 g of lateral force and 2.5 g under heavy braking.
To make the LM more bearable for common folks out there, AM has also made some essential tweaks to the hypercar. For starters, the electronic systems required for the race car have been removed, while the ballasts have also been stripped from the racer. For a longer and hassle-free track experience, the LM also gets a larger fuel tank.
The rest of the car remains true to its original Le Mans twin, including the same double-wishbone front and rear suspension setups, carbon-ceramic performance brakes, and even the same bespoke Pirelli racing slicks shod into the centre-locked forged alloys.
In a bid not to dilute the sensation of driving a Le Mans car, the Valkyrie LM retains the same single-seat layout with a carbon fibre seat, plus the same F1-style steering wheel with multiple dials and buttons to adjust multiple parameters in this racer.
As we mentioned earlier, only 10 examples of the Valkyrie LM will be made, and we’re not being told the asking price for one. But even if you can afford one, Aston Martin won’t easily let you hoon this exquisite driving machine, as the automaker will organise a series of catered track day experiences to get owners up to speed with the LM and earn a race license. These sessions will take place in some of the most famous tracks around the globe, starting with AM Racing’s home base, the Silverstone.
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Mukhlis Azman
An avid two-wheeler that writes and talks about four-wheelers for a living, while dreaming of an urban transit-laden Malaysia. @mukhlisazman