The Aston Martin THOR Team’s number 009 Valkyrie, driven by triple FIA WEC title-winner Marco Sørensen (DEN), LM GT3 and IMSA GTD Pro winner Alex Riberas (ESP) and former IMSA GTD champion Roman De Angelis (CDN), completed 295 laps on its way to an eventual 17th position.

The debut event for Valkyrie was always going to provide a steep learning curve in a grueling 10-hour race. But while a points finish eluded Valkyrie on its maiden competitive outing, the British-built hypercar showed encouraging race-pace during several stints completed by the number 009 car and sister number 007 entry, providing strong clues to its future potential in the world’s most prestigious endurance competition.

“We knew this was going to be a ‘learning weekend’ for Valkyrie,” said Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Adam Carter. “And we’ve encountered some of the ‘teething issues’ you would associate with a new racing programme. That said, we have been encouraged by the race pace both cars showed during their stints. We saw plenty of indications throughout our time during the Qatar Prologue and the opening race that give us cause to believe we can be competitive as the season matures. We’ve learned a huge amount over this past week, gathered considerable data, and this gives us plenty to build on as we look ahead to Valkyrie’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut at Sebring in two weeks’ time.”

The two Valkyries comfortably tracked the pace of the Hypercar class in the early stages of the event and settled into an accomplished rhythm. And while the number 009 was forced to pit to replace a missing door in the second hour, and the number 007, driven by British trio Tom Gamble, Ross Gunn and Harry Tincknell was eventually forced to withdraw from the race with a transmission issue, when on-track, both cars were able to deliver lap times comparable with competitors running at the front of the pack.

Aston Martin THOR Team Principal Ian James said: “We knew this first race was going to be tough. But the team has gelled so well, worked so hard, and we saw real evidence of what the car is capable of as we start to apply the lessons we learn on this exciting journey. It was amazing to see how we measured against the competition already with our race pace, and I think inside the team we really have the feeling that we can fight with our rival teams and manufacturers who are well established in the championship. We also know we have the most learning to do and the most to come from our package, which is right at the beginning of its development curve and understanding. There is much to be excited about.”

The first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ (LMH) to be produced by Aston Martin, Valkyrie is the only car in the WEC’s premier category derived from a road-legal hypercar. Its global debut, masterminded by the works Aston Martin THOR team in Qatar, begins an historic season for the British challenger, which will be the only LMH to compete in both the FIA WEC and in North America’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Directed by Aston Martin Performance Technologies and The Heart of Racing, and bred from the Valkyrie production model, the competition version blends a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis with a modified 6.5-litre, Cosworth-developed, V12 naturally aspirated engine 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.

Harry Tincknell, driver number 007 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “We learned an incredible amount through the whole Prologue and race week. Of course, we would have liked to get to the end with the number 007, and have everything perfect, but that is not realistic in motor racing. But we have seen enough this weekend to know we will get there soon enough. The positives are that during the race the car was competitively fast, and our pace was really strong as night fell. We knew ultimately this weekend wasn’t about winning, but about learning, and in that sense we’ve come away from this event with a victory.”

Tom Gamble, driver number 007 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster weekend. There is a such a big build-up in Qatar. It’s actually been really positive, we have learned so much this weekend and that was our main objective, both about the car and how the team worked together. In order for us to eventually be winning, we need to be learning and improving things, and there are a lot of things we can work on and improve before we go to Imola – I’m already looking forward to hitting the track there. To be a part of the Valkyrie debut has been incredible and a huge honour, it’s going to be a really exciting year.”

Ross Gunn, driver number 007 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “It feels great to have completed my first competitive stints in the Valkyrie. We worked through several options with the tyres and improved the car through the weekend, and also from the Prologue, which is very positive. We picked up a lot of miles over the last week and that is really important for our learning going forward into the next round of the WEC and also into the 12 Hours of Sebring, our first race in IMSA. It’s a very exciting time to be not only an Aston Martin driver but also a member of this team. I am very proud of everyone’s efforts to get us here; let’s keep moving forward.”

Marco Sørensen, driver number 009 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “It is very special to finish the first race. Yes of course we have a lot to learn, and we need to make sure we improve and have less issues – but all this kind of stuff is normal for a new programme. It feels like we are moving forwards all the time and I think we showed with our race pace that the car has a great deal of very exciting potential that we will unlock.”

Alex Riberas, driver number 009 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “It was definitely one of those races where we didn’t really know what to expect coming into it. We knew it was important to get a car home within 90% of the winner’s finishing distance and we did that, so that’s a big box ticked. There are a lot of things we have discovered that we can now work on ahead of the next race in Imola. I think we have shown today that we have an exciting road ahead of us.”

Roman De Angelis, driver number 009 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “Pretty busy day for the Aston Martin THOR Team in Qatar. It didn’t go perfectly but it was a pretty special moment to get to cross the finish line for the first time in the Valkyrie programme. It was also a special moment for the team to get a car home. We’ve learned a lot, and it’s a long programme with a long road ahead. Looking forward to the progression and it’s only up from here.”

Aston Martin Racing partner teams The Heart of Racing (THOR) and Racing Spirit of Léman (RSL) recorded a double points finish – which because of the race’s 10-hour duration counted for 1.5 times the regular amount – for the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship; the Qatar 1812km.

Following a brilliant quadruple stint from THOR team principal Ian James (GBR), the number 27 Vantage was firmly in the hunt from early in the race, and by the time the 2024 class title contender handed over to his team-mate Zacharie Robichon (CDN), the number 27 car was in the hunt for the class lead.

Sadly, a penalty for a pitstop infringement delayed the Aston Martin, but still Robichon and works driver Mattia Drudi (ITA) pushed on with an off-set strategy that would have reaped a podium had a late-race Full Course Yellow intervened. Instead, the crew had to settle for sixth place and 12 points.

RSL finished ninth after a trouble-free stint for Derek DeBoer (USA) was followed by a strong turn for series debutant Eduardo Barrichello (BRA). Works driver Valentin Hasse-Clot (FRA) brought the number 10 Vantage home ninth in class to earn three points.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport: “Both Aston Martin Racing partner teams showed strongly at Qatar. THOR picked up where it left off last season with a performance that had the potential to reward Vantage with another WEC podium. RSL, on the team’s WEC debut with Vantage, ran a sound race and was a points contender throughout. The performance is another example of the Vantage’s extraordinary agility in all race conditions. We can look forward to an exciting season ahead.”

Aston Martin’s Valkyrie and Vantage GT3 return to action in the second round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Sebring, in Florida, on 12-15 March.