Aston Martin Confirms Unchanged Valkyrie Hypercar Driver Line-Up for 2026 FIA WEC Season
Image: newspress.uk
Gaydon, UK (8 December 2025) – Aston Martin has confirmed that its spectacular Valkyrie Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) will contest the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship with the same driver line-up that delivered a strong debut season in 2025. The decision signals continuity, confidence and momentum as the British manufacturer prepares for its second year in the sportscar racing top category.
The Valkyrie Returns: Same Drivers, Stronger Foundations
Aston Martin THOR Team will once again field two works-run Valkyrie LMH entries: the #007 and #009.
#007 Driver Line-Up
Tom Gamble (GBR)
Harry Tincknell (GBR)
Ross Gunn (GBR) – endurance rounds
#009 Driver Line-Up
Alex Riberas (ESP)
Marco Sørensen (DEN)
Roman De Angelis (CDN) – long-distance races
Team Principal Ian James highlighted that the stability of the squad is a strategic advantage:
“We’ve generated a hugely valuable hub of understanding and knowledge about Valkyrie that will be crucial as we move into season two. The drivers delivered over and above what we asked from them.”
A Trailblazing Hypercar Program: Valkyrie’s First Season in Review
Valkyrie is Aston Martin’s first-ever Le Mans Hypercar built for world championship competition. Notably, it remains the only Hypercar derived from a road-legal model competing in both IMSA and FIA WEC.
Since making its race debut at the Qatar 1812km in February 2025, the Valkyrie program has achieved:
Over 22,000 racing miles across WEC, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Multiple points finishes in its debut season
A best WEC result of 5th overall at the 6 Hours of Fuji
A race-leading stint in Bahrain with Riberas charging to the front
Its first global competition podium at IMSA Petit Le Mans, finishing just five seconds shy of victory with De Angelis, Gunn and Riberas
The inaugural Le Mans outing demonstrated reliability and potential: both Valkyries completed the 24-hour classic without major issues, finishing 12th and 14th and scoring Aston Martin’s first Manufacturer World Championship points in the Hypercar class.
Image: newspress.uk
The Heart of Racing Expands Aston Martin’s GT Assault
Alongside its Hypercar programme, Aston Martin confirmed that long-time partner The Heart of Racing (THOR) will expand to field two Vantage LMGT3 entries in the 2026 FIA WEC season.
#27 Vantage LMGT3
Ian James (GBR) returning for his third full WEC season
Podium finisher in Bahrain and fourth overall in the 2025 LMGT3 standings
#23 Vantage LMGT3
Gray Newell (USA) stepping up after an impressive GT World Challenge America campaign and standout Rookie Test performance
Praised by James for lap times “good enough for a Hyperpole fight” in Bahrain
Aston Martin’s Vantage enters its 15th consecutive WEC season in 2026, continuing the legacy of:
53 world-level GT victories
11 world championship titles
69 class pole positions
Five Le Mans class wins in the WEC era
The latest Vantage GT3 remains anchored by Aston Martin’s bonded aluminium chassis and twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, with multiple podiums and pole positions achieved in 2025.
Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, stated:
“The Heart of Racing is the right partner to spearhead Aston Martin Vantage’s world championship attack in 2026. The team’s quality and engineering depth are unquestionable.”
Building Toward 2026: Stability, Experience and Ambition
Aston Martin enters 2026 with a clear mission:
refine the Valkyrie’s competitiveness,
capitalize on the lessons of 2025,
and continue its dual-class pursuit across Hypercar and LMGT3.
With both its Hypercar and GT programmes retaining key personnel and expanding resources, the brand positions itself for a breakthrough second season on motorsport’s biggest stage.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this website are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of these links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
We only recommend products and services that we trust or that are directly relevant to our content. Affiliate earnings help us keep this platform independent and of high quality.
