The first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ (LMH) to be produced by Aston Martin, Valkyrie is the only car in IMSA’s premier GTP category derived from a road-legal hypercar. Its US debut, masterminded by the works Aston Martin THOR team at Sebring, continues an historic season for the British contender, which will become the first LMH car of any kind to compete in IMSA, and is the only such racer contesting both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), where it made its debut in Qatar last month.

Developed from the Valkyrie production car by Aston Martin and THOR, the competition version blends a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis with a modified 6.5-litre V12 powerplant that revs to 11,000rpm and produces over 1000bhp in standard form, but adheres to a strict 500kw (680bhp) power limit as per hypercar regulations.

Valkyrie positions Aston Martin in the top division of US sportscar racing for the first time since 2011; a season in which five outright victories and seven podiums were achieved in the American Le Mans Series.

The Aston Martin works driver roster for the single-car programme features a line-up brimming with international experience and success. Canadian Roman De Angelis, the 2022 IMSA GTD champion, and Ross Gunn (GBR), a regular race winner in the GTD and GTD Pro categories, will contest the rest of the IMSA season in the number 23 Valkyrie. Both are past winners of the Aston Martin Race Academy.

They are joined at Sebring – and for the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta – by THOR regular Alex Riberas (ESP), whose full-time campaign in 2025 is racing Valkyrie in the FIA WEC, but who has a wealth of experience in IMSA and has been a GTD Pro race winner in each of the past three seasons.

Ross Gunn, driver number 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “Sebring this year is a very important event for us, even more than normal, and it will be the first IMSA race for Valkyrie, which is incredibly exciting. Of course we are on a very steep learning trajectory right now, but everyone is working super-hard to bring as much performance as possible to the car. I’m really looking forward to getting out there. I think it’s going to be a huge challenge both physically and mentally because Sebring is always one of the toughest events, but it’s what we have trained hard for. It’s very exciting to have the V12 engine going around Sebring. It’s going to be an incredible weekend.”

Roman De Angelis, driver number 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “I’m looking forward to heading to Sebring for the first IMSA race for the Valkyrie programme and the first race for my full-season campaign with Ross. I think we learned a lot as drivers and as a team from our FIA WEC debut in Qatar a few weeks ago and that will all help us to keep progressing. Sebring is such an iconic and unique event that I look forward to every year and to get to do it in the top class for the first time is something I could only have dreamed of a couple of years ago, so it’s definitely going to be a special weekend.”

Alex Riberas, driver number 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “The 12 Hours of Sebring may be the highlight of the year for the Aston Martin Team THOR IMSA programme, marking the debut of the Aston Martin Valkyrie in North America. It’s also the first LMH car to race under IMSA’s regulations, which is a huge milestone for everyone involved in the project. One thing everyone knows about Sebring is that it’s very challenging. We know we are stepping into a big, big weekend for everybody. I’m really looking forward to being on an amazing track with such an amazing car.”

Ian James, Team Principal, Aston Martin THOR Team: “IMSA is where The Heart of Racing team has grown up and flourished into a championship winning organisation so to be joining the top class is a very special moment for all involved. To be bringing this incredible hypercar to the American race fans is a precious moment for us all. It’s a dream come true to be racing in the top class with a manufacturer programme with everyone involved. We obviously learned a lot in the race conditions on our debut in Qatar two weeks ago, and we always knew that would be an educational experience for us, but it is one that we drew a lot of confidence from, and of course every time we run now we’re taking on learnings and applying them to the next event. This only builds momentum, and I expect that to carry on through the season.”

Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport: “With Aston Martin returning to top-flight endurance competition in the US with such a breathtaking hypercar, the first of its kind to race in IMSA and the only one developed from a road car, this is clearly a landmark step for the Valkyrie programme. We all know the challenges Sebring offers, both as a venue and as a race, but these are important tests for Valkyrie and every mile builds data and understanding as we build on the car’s debut in Qatar. The car cuts a striking silhouette in its blue livery, and with its unique sound from the V12 6.5-litre engine, I am certain this car will win the hearts and minds of the American racing fans.”

While Valkyrie contests the GTP division, Aston Martin will also battle for victory in the GTD category as the latest version of the Vantage GT3 is fielded by former series champions The Heart of Racing (THOR) and by Van der Steur Racing.

Sharing the mechanical architecture of the ultra-luxury performance brand’s most focused sportscar, the Vantage GT3, which triumphed at last year’s 24 Hours of Spa, is built around Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by its fearsome twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine.

Sebring was the scene of one of Aston Martin’s greatest successes in GT racing in North America as the DBR9 model claimed a stunning GT1 victory on the car’s race debut in 2005 driven by Darren Turner (GBR), David Brabham (AUS) and Stephane Ortelli (MCA). Eight further podium finishes since then in the race’s various GT classes – including four for Vantage since 2015 – have helped establish Aston Martin as one of Sebring’s outstanding GT racing marques.

Fresh from a GTD-class podium finish at January’s Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, IMSA’s opening round and its longest race, The Heart of Racing is tackling the GTD class with a distinguished line-up in its  number 27 Vantage.

The 2021 IMSA GTD title winner and 2023 European Le Mans Series GTE champion Zacharie Robichon (CDN), is joined by Aston Martin THOR team WEC Valkyrie driver Tom Gamble (GBR) who returns to an event he contested with THOR in 2022. The roster is completed by FIA WEC LMGT3 podium finisher Casper Stevenson (GBR) who, like Robichon and Gamble, formed part of THOR’s Daytona podium-finishing line-up in January.

After finishing a competitive sixth in GTD on its series debut at Daytona, Van der Steur Racing continues its first season with the Vantage GT3 at Sebring. Aston Martin works driver Valentin Hasse Clot (FRA), the third winner of the Aston Martin Racing Academy to race an Aston Martin at Sebring, and the 2023 Le Mans Cup GT3 champion, joins Anthony McIntosh (USA) and Rory van der Steur (USA) in number 19.

Sebring was the scene of the first global victory (on only its fourth start) for the latest Vantage GT4 one year ago and the victorious Rebel Rock Racing team is back with the same 2024 winning line-up of Frank DePew (USA) and Robin Liddell (GBR) to seek more success in Friday’s Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 – round two of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

The Vantage GT4 claimed last year’s GS class Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ crowns and Matt Plumb (USA) and Team TGM return to continue the defence of their titles, which began at Daytona. Plumb is partnered by Paul Holton (USA) while Hugh Plumb (USA) and team owner Ted Giovanis (USA) share the sister car. Van der Steur Racing’s Christine and Ben Sloss (both USA) look to build on the podium finish they scored in the bronze class at Daytona.

How to watch

The Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring will begin at 1010 local time (+5 Hours GMT) on Saturday, 15 March, 2025. It will be broadcast live globally on IMSA TV and on the IMSA YouTube channel and and via selected broadcasters at a national level. The Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 starts at 1410 local time on Friday, 14 March.