Unlike the one-off Porsche 963 RSP, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is a street-legal car that was modified to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, the brand is letting a small handful of customers take advantage of the lessons learned while testing the car for a grueling day-long race. The new Aston Martin Valkyrie LM is pretty much identical to the Le Mans-bound model, and production is limited to 10 examples globally.
Power for the Valkyrie LM comes from a modified, lean-burning version of the race car’s Cosworth-built 6.5-liter V-12 engine. It’s tuned to develop 697 horsepower, which is the same figure that Le Mans drivers will have under their right foot, and it spins the rear wheels via a seven-speed sequential transmission linked to shift paddles. For context, the 12-cylinder makes 1,001-horsepower in the street-legal model.
The suspension includes double wishbones on both axles, and the LM rides on Pirelli tires developed specifically for it. All told, the changes that differentiate the Valkyrie that will line up on the 24 Hours of Le Mans starting grid and the Valkyrie LM are relatively minor. Aston Martin removed FIA-required parts, such as the ballast and the electronics, and it redesigned the cabin and the user interface to make the car more accessible to amateur drivers. Peek inside, and you’ll find a carbon fiber racing seat, an FIA-compatible six-point harness, a steering wheel with an integrated display, and a fire suppression system.
Here’s the catch: The Aston Martin Valkyrie LM isn’t street-legal. Owners will be able to store their car where they see fit, whether it’s in their collection or at a track, but Aston Martin will also offer a driver development program that ensures each driver and each car is ready for the track. Buyers who opt in will leave their car in the hands of a new dedicated department within Aston Martin that will store it, maintain it, and transport it to each track event. Participants will fly in, race, fly out, and leave the rest to the brand.
The program also includes one-on-one training sessions hosted by professionals, both on the track and on a simulator, as well as a helmet, a suit, fireproof underwear, and other items needed to go racing. The first track day will coincide with a handover event scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2026, and Aston Martin will host two more LM-only track days before the end of next year. It’s reasonable to assume that additional track events will be organized in the following years, but details aren’t available.
Production of the Aston Martin Valkyrie LM is limited to 10 examples. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but keep in mind that the standard, street-legal Valkyrie carries a base price of approximately $3 million.
It looks every bit the modern race car. I wonder how this one sounds different from the street car.
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