IMSA’s official test at Daytona International Speedway later this month is set to be a significant one for a number of reasons. As well as being the first appearance for torque-sensing GTD cars ahead of the 2025 WeatherTech Championship, it will mark the first race at an IMSA-sanctioned event for Aston Martin’s Valkyrie AMR-LMH ahead of its IMSA GTP and FIA debut WEC Hypercar. year.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, gave RACER an update on the development of the V12-powered car today at the Bahrain FIA WEC round, confirming that the British manufacturer and partner team Heart of Racing will be present in Florida with one car. . It will represent another major milestone for the revived Valkyrie project.

“We’re progressing well – the car has been going well, the feedback around it is positive, but racing is about competition. We know it’s going to be a challenge, that’s why we’re coming,” he said when asked about the steps taken in recent months during testing. “We have formidable competition, so you can’t underestimate the quality and caliber of people here. We have taken this into account and set ambitious and appropriate targets.”

Aston Martin has completed approximately 6,800 miles of running the Valkyrie AMR-LMH on several circuits. Aston and Heart of Racing will also take part in a Michelin tire test next week in Bahrain with one car before heading to the Daytona test with a second chassis.

“In Daytona, you will start to see a direction of travel as the teams build, with the support of the UK and USA teams to ensure we put our best foot forward rather than splitting into two teams.” Carter said when asked if the IMSA test will provide an indication of the key engineering staff members and drivers that will make up the IMSA team.

With the car close to homologation ahead of the 2025 IMSA and FIA WEC seasons, Carter noted that the process of finalizing the car’s specifications is on track.

“It’s fine,” he said, “we’ve had great support from the FIA, the ACO and IMSA and everyone is working together.”

However, no firm decision has been made on where the car will make its global race debut. Will it be at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January or the FIA ​​WEC season opener in Qatar a month later?

“We have our plan, we go with our plan and we have regular review meetings,” he said. “We will make the right decisions at the right time.”