The Aston Martin Valkyrie may be quite a car, but the British carmaker is continuously finding ways to make it even better. Their latest creation will be the Valkyrie AMR Pro, a track-only model that doesn’t abide by any racing regulations whatsoever, and is the brainchild of Adrian Newey, Red Bull Technology’s chief technical officer.
“While it is endowed with extraordinary performance, 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,” said Newey.
“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,” he added.
Power continues to come from a 6.5 litre naturally-aspirated, Cosworth-built V12 engine, but tuned to deliver more power and torque. You’ll get to hear it a little better too, as Aston Martin says the “AMR Pro’s exhaust system will also be lighter than that fitted to the road car due to the minimal silencing requirements.”
Output for the powertrain’s Rimac Energy Recovery System will remain the same as the road car, but will see a revision to its control systems for track use. The end result is a top speed that is predicted to be close to 402 km/h (250 mph).
As you can see in these sketches, there’s a significant upgrade in terms of the Valkyrie’s exterior. The goal here is maximum aerodynamic performance, with larger front and rear wing elements, together with revised active aerodynamic control strategies catered for the demands of track driving.
There’s also Formula One-inspired carbon brakes to help generate braking deceleration forces of more than 3.5 g, and Michelin racing tyres. The latter is made to the same specification as those used by LMP1 cars in the World Endurance Championship, and contribute to the Valkyrie AMR Pro’s ability to sustain cornering forces in excess of 3.3 g.
Like the Vulcan AMR Pro, efforts have been made to make the car lighter as well. Among the discarded items are the climate control system and infotainment screens, while lightweight track-specific components are introduced.
These include polycarbonate windscreen (with heater elements) and side windows, a lighter carbon-fibre body, new suspension uprights and carbon fibre wishbones, plus moulded race seats in place of the adjustable items in the road car.
According to Red Bull’s extensive simulation work, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro will be capable of achieving lap times to rival those of a modern F1 or LMP1 car. Therefore, owners will have to undergo a comprehensive driver development programme, with access to the same facilities (simulator, fitness centre, etc.) as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s F1 drivers.
The Valkyrie AMR Pro is the product of a collaboration between Aston Martin, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and project partner AF Racing. If you want one, you’re too late, as all 25 units that will be built have already been accounted for (deliveries in 2020).
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Ahh. The powerboat on wheels