Will these 2 speed demons be able to take the Aston Martin THOR and Valkyrie far?
Aston Martin THOR Team has named the first two drivers for its 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) campaign, Alex Riberas (ESP) and Harry Tincknell (GBR). Both have extensive experience racing Aston Martins and played key roles in developing the new Valkyrie hypercar for this summer’s testing program.
The Aston Martin Valkyrie, set to debut in the 2025 WEC at the Qatar 1812km on February 28, 2025, will compete in both the WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA). The Valkyrie is the only Hypercar built to FIA regulations to race in both series.
Moreover, two 6.5-liter V12-powered Valkyries will compete in the WEC’s top Hypercar class, with the #007 and #009 race numbers returning. The Valkyrie will also debut in IMSA’s GTP category at the 12 Hours of Sebring (March 12-14, 2025).
Tincknell, returning to Aston Martin after four years, last raced for the brand in 2020 when he won the LMGTE Pro class at Le Mans. He will drive the #007 Valkyrie. “It’s an honour to return to Aston Martin for the Valkyrie program,” said Tincknell. “The car is incredible, and it’s exciting to be part of its development.
Aston Martin also has an amazing history in motorsport, and I hope to repeat my Le Mans victory with the Valkyrie.” Riberas, a veteran of The Heart of Racing team, moves up from the GT category to drive the #009 Valkyrie. He has earned his place with impressive victories in both WEC and IMSA.
On top of that, Riberas said, “Joining Aston Martin at the top of endurance racing is a dream come true. The Valkyrie is the most spectacular car I’ve driven, and I’m excited to share it with fans worldwide.” Team principal Ian James praised the drivers for their dedication and speed during testing. “Both Harry and Alex have earned their seats for 2025. We’re thrilled to race with the Valkyrie at the pinnacle of endurance racing,” he said.
The Valkyrie has completed over 12,500km of testing, including recent Michelin and IMSA Sanction tests, as Aston Martin THOR Team fine-tunes the car ahead of homologation for 2025. The brand’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, Adam Carter, noted that while testing has been successful, the team is preparing for fierce competition in the WEC Hypercar and IMSA GTP categories.
