Aston Martin’s Valkyrie has shattered the Top Gear Test Track record for road-legal vehicles, clocking a lap time of 1:09.6 with the Stig at the helm.
That figure makes it 1.3 seconds faster than the Koenigsegg Jesko Attack, which had previously claimed the top spot, and 1.7 seconds quicker than Ferrari’s AWD SF90 Stradale.
The hypercar, developed with input from Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey, was initially pitched as a Formula One car for the road.
While that benchmark hasn’t been fully realised - track-only machines on slick tyres remain out of reach - the Valkyrie’s pace is staggering considering it runs road-legal tyres and retains number plates.
No gimmicks
Unlike many of its rivals, the Valkyrie forgoes all-wheel drive or hybrid trickery. Its rear-wheel-drive layout channels over 1000kW through a high-revving, naturally aspirated 6.5-litre Cosworth V12. That engine alone spins to 11,000rpm, highlighting the car’s unique hypercar credentials.
Top Gear’s comparison tests show the Valkyrie outpacing not only the Jesko and SF90 but also edging out the Ferrari FXX - a track-only model - by 1.1 seconds.
However, it still trails behind dedicated race-bred machines like the Pagani Zonda, McLaren 720S GT3X and Renault’s R24 F1 car.
Track limitations and potential for more
The Stig’s lap was completed on Dunsfold’s short, technical layout, which features only a handful of high-speed sweepers where the Valkyrie’s active aerodynamics and extreme downforce can fully engage.
On a longer circuit, the performance gap to AWD rivals like the SF90 could widen even further.
Still, as the fastest road-legal car ever to lap the circuit, the Valkyrie has firmly cemented its status. It’s a road car, but only just - and one that now holds an undeniable place in hypercar history.