Photo: Jonathan Grace

Heart of Racing team principal Ian James says the team is “hitting its milestones” testing the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH and preparations for the 2025 seasons are “going to plan”.

The V12-powered prototype is in the midst of a simultaneous testing program in the Middle East and the US, having recently taken part in a Michelin tire test of the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship at the Bahrain International Circuit, as well as the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta test. ahead of this weekend’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona International Speedway.

“I was in Bahrain, (for a) Michelin test. It will be planned by now,” James told Sportscar365. “We are reaching our milestones.

“We just tested in Atlanta. we are here We’ll be at Sebring next week. Then we’ll have a reunion after that.

“I think with any new car, (there are) a few new car niggles, but other than that it was a pretty good race.”

While Heart of Racing will run the Valkyrie in a one-car WeatherTech Championship effort and a two-car WEC campaign, it remains unclear when the car will make its race debut.

Although the opening round of the WEC in Qatar at the end of February appears to be the latest, the car could compete for the first time under the regulations.

“We’re still working on homologation,” James said. “We will know more in the coming weeks.

“We’re going to do what’s best for the program. We will see where we are and then make a final decision.”

While no drivers have been named for the team’s IMSA or WEC efforts next year, Aston Martin factory driver Ross Gunn will be driving laps at this weekend’s Daytona test alongside Alex Riberas and Roman De Angelis.

Sportscar365 understands that all three drivers had previous seat time in the car before the Daytona test.

“(There are) no drivers to report at this time,” James said. “But everyone who is motivated by it seems to enjoy it and I think they all want to be part of the program.”

James hopes the Valkyrie will be a “gateway” for other LMH cars in IMSA

The Valkyrie AMR-LMH will become the first car built to Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) regulations to compete in the WeatherTech Championship, which has until now only featured LMDh prototypes in the GTP class.

Currently, a mix of LMH and LMDh prototypes compete in the WEC.

James says he hopes the Valkyrie’s presence on the WeatherTech Championship grid acts as a “gateway” for other LMH cars to come into the series.

“We see in the WEC the parity of the cars and them going head-to-head, so hopefully it will be the same here,” he said.

“It’s early days for the program but it’s nice to be here in a pretty impressive line-up of GTP cars and (we’re) excited to be a part of it.”

Jonathan Grace is the host of Sportscar365’s Double Stint Podcast and a contributor to the website’s IMSA-sanctioned racing coverage.