- Aston Martin THOR ran a development Valkyrie on Silverstone's Grand Prix circuit.
- Ross Gunn and Harry Tincknell shared duties as the team gathered circuit and tyre knowledge.
- Aston Martin says the test will shape the Valkyrie's future technical direction.
More than a routine shakedown
Aston Martin THOR used a development test at Silverstone on 19 August to dig deeper into where its Valkyrie Hypercar goes next, rather than simply banking laps for the sake of it.
The team says it worked through technical items and gathered data on the Grand Prix circuit as it weighs the car's future performance direction. Works drivers Ross Gunn and Harry Tincknell split the driving duties, giving Aston Martin a chance to build up more circuit knowledge while also learning more about tyre behaviour at the British venue.
That matters beyond a one-off test day. The FIA World Endurance Championship is due to return to Silverstone on 23 to 25 April 2027, so every kilometre now helps Aston Martin THOR build a stronger baseline before the series heads back there.
Team principal Ian James underlined that development focus, saying: “Some of the developments we tried today will fuel our thinking as we consider the technical direction we go next with Valkyrie.”
Road-car roots, race-car focus
The competition Valkyrie still carries a direct link to Aston Martin's road-legal production car, but it has been reworked around a race-optimised carbon-fibre chassis for Hypercar duty.
Its naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 remains a headline feature too, revving to 11,000rpm. In road-derived form the engine can produce more than 745kW, although Hypercar regulations cap the race car at 500kW.
What Aston Martin has not disclosed is just as telling. There are no lap times, no detailed list of tested components and no confirmed upgrade package coming out of the Silverstone run. That leaves this test best understood as a targeted development checkpoint: a chance to try new ideas, gather evidence and decide which direction gives the Valkyrie its best shot when Silverstone returns to the WEC calendar.
