Aston Martin Valkyrie LM runs like a hypercar used in racing
Aston Martin releases the Valkyrie LM, a hypercar inspired by the road-legal version of the Valkyrie, in July 2016. Back then a non-working model, the LM variant is for the racing fans who want to own the vehicle and drive it on tracks. The current model is not road-legal and can’t also be used for official racing since the car manufacturer has designed it for private use only. Because of this, the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM doesn’t have the ballast, or the extra weight used to balance the car during races, and specific electronics installed to comply with the racing rules.
The hypercar’s controls are designed for personal driving, too. During racing, there usually is a system that adjusts the power delivered to the wheels. In the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM, it’s absent because the setup is more ‘direct,’ similar to how road-legal cars work, with their knobs and controls. The design team has also refreshed the engine so the hypercar can run on normal fuel instead of the ones used in racing. To still keep the spirit of racing, the team retains several designs. The first is the seven-speed gearboxes that use paddles behind the steering wheel, just like in track cars. The next is the adjustable suspension that adapts to different track conditions.
all images courtesy of Aston Martin
Built-in screen on the steering wheel
Then, the tires of the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM are still from Pirelli, which is the same company that makes the wheels for Formula 1 cars. Even the carbon-fiber seats come with padding around the shoulders and head, the same upholstery as the racing cars. The steering wheel comes with lighting and a built-in screen to show the user their driving information as if they were in a race. For a brief history recap, the car manufacturer started its Valkyrie project in 2016, producing the road-legal Valkyrie Coupe and the convertible Valkyrie Spider over time. Now, it is the time of the Valkyrie LM, which draws its design and engine cues from both its sibling models.
The race car version of the Valkyrie Hypercar is competing in two major racing series this 2025: the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in North America. Just like the Valkyrie that’s racing in the 2025 Le Mans, the LM version uses a modified version of the same V12 engine. It also doesn’t use a turbocharger but produces up to 520 kilowatts, following the racing rule limits. Aston Martin says that it will only produce ten Valkyrie LM units to be delivered in the second quarter of 2026.
Aston Martin releases the Valkyrie LM, a hypercar inspired by the road-legal version of the Valkyrie
the LM variant is for the racing fans who want to own the vehicle and drive it on tracks
this model is not road-legal and can’t also be used for official racing
the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM doesn’t have the ballast, or the extra weight used to balance the car during races
rear view of the hypercar
