The track version of the Valkyrie will have even more power and torque than the standard, 900bhp-plus hypercar
Aston Martin has revealed the track version of its Valkyrie hypercar, which will have more power and torque and less weight than the standard version when it arrives in 2020.
Developed with Red Bull Advanced Technologies and AP Racing, just 25 Valkyrie AMR Pro models will be made and all have already been sold - at a price thought to be above £3 million. The standard Valkyrie, of which all 150 have been allocated, is priced between £2m and £3m.
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The two computer-generated images of the Valkyrie AMR Pro show the obvious changes to the car's exterior over its roadgoing sibling. All the aerodynamic surfaces have been tweaked to significantly increase downforce, Aston Martin claims. There are also much larger front and rear wings and revised active aerodynamic control created for the demands of track driving.
Details of the extra power and torque from the hypercar's naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre Cosworth V12 have not been revealed, but have been achieved by engine recalibration and a modification of the road car's emissions control systems. Figures for the road car are not yet confirmed either but it is tipped to produce more than 900bhp and weigh little more than 1000kg, so expect gains on those figures for the track variant.
The AMR Pro runs on smaller wheels than the road car – 18in front and rear, so that Michelin racing tyres can be used, which have the same specification as those used by LMP1 cars in the World Endurance Championship. It also features Formula 1-inspired race-spec carbon-ceramic brakes.
Further weight savings have been made by removing the heater blower and infotainment screens fitted to the road car and through other ultra-lightweight components such as polycarbonate windscreen and side windows, carbonfibre wishbones and moulded race seats.
The AMR Pro's exhaust system will also be lighter because there are fewer silencing requirements on track cars.
All of these changes, according to Aston Martin, create a car with a top speed predicted to be close to 250mph plus the ability to sustain cornering forces in excess of 3.3g and braking deceleration of more than 3.5g.
According to Red Bull's simulation work, the AMR Pro will be capable of achieving lap times to rival a contemporary F1 or LMP1 car.
Owners of AMR Pro models will have access to the same facilities as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing's F1 drivers, including time in the simulator and professional on-track tuition. The cars will features in a series of dedicated track events.
Red Bull Technology's chief technical officer, Adrian Newey, said: "It has always been vitally important to me that the Valkyrie functions well as a true road car, and that naturally comes with some constraints.
"However, with the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro we have the freedom to create an extreme evolution that makes no such concessions. While the core elements of the road and track versions are shared, every aspect of the AMR Pro – aerodynamics, chassis, powertrain and weight – has been optimised to significantly extend the performance envelope. It offers a level of track performance significantly beyond any previous two-seat closed-roof car."
Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer added: "Valkyrie has always been about pushing the limits and redefining the possible. The road car will set new benchmarks for performance, engineering and technology - a hypercar in the truest sense - and with the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro those limits will be pushed further still."
The Valkyrie AMR Pro will be the halo car for Aston Martin's AMR performance sub-brand, variants of which will be applied across the car maker's model range over time. The roadgoing Rapide AMR has already been revealed, as has the track-only Vantage AMR Pro.
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