The Aston Martin Valkyrie has rewritten the record books at Silverstone, setting a blistering lap time of 1:56.42 around the Formula One circuit.
This feat establishes the hypercar as the fastest street-legal production car at the iconic British track, surpassing the previous record by over 10 seconds.
The record was formerly held by a Porsche 911 GT2 RS modified by Manthey Racing, with a lap time of 2:06.83. Aston Martin’s Valkyrie also outpaced a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 race car on slick tyres, which clocked a 1:58.165 lap time in 2019.
Notably, the Valkyrie achieved this on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, with damp conditions adding a further challenge.
Key to the Valkyrie’s achievement is its aerodynamic prowess, delivering an astounding 1100kg of downforce thanks to a highly complex underfloor design. The car generated over 3.3g of lateral acceleration through corners, reaching a top speed of 330km/h down Silverstone’s main straight.
Test driver Darren Turner, a three-time Le Mans winner, piloted the hypercar to its record-breaking lap. Reflecting on the run, Turner remarked, "The car performed brilliantly. I’m not sure I had anything more to give, but maybe on a day that was kinder with the conditions we could find a few more tenths.”
As production of the Valkyrie nears its conclusion, this record validates Aston Martin’s ambitious engineering goals. While the car fell short of the manufacturer’s early claims of Formula One pace - the F1 record at Silverstone remains Max Verstappen’s 1:27.097 - its performance is undeniably extraordinary.
The Valkyrie’s triumph reinforces its place among the elite in automotive engineering, proving that a road-legal car can achieve race-level performance in the right hands.