The Aston Martin Valkyrie has broken cover during a demonstration at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix.
The hypercar, a collaboration between Aston Martin, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and AF Racing will be the British marque's platform with which it will enter into the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2020. Aston Martin announced its intention to compete in the new category at Le Mans last month.
Test driver Chris Goodwin took the Valkyrie out on track for its first ever public demonstration run. “I’ve driven this car around Silverstone for countless hours on the simulator at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s HQ and in many other sportscars throughout my career, but to drive Aston Martin Valkyrie here today feels exceptionally special," said Goodwin after his run. "Of course, we still have a lot of development work to go but we can now begin to really push the physical testing process and realise the capabilities of what we have developed over the past months. Putting that aside, today has brought a real smile to my face and I hope that the crowds watching from the stands enjoyed it as much as I did.”
Andy Palmer, President and CEO of Aston Martin, commented: “Today is a real milestone in not only Aston Martin’s history but for our industry as a whole. Aston Martin Valkyrie continues to redefine what you and I recognise as a hypercar, possessing unrivalled levels of performance in a package that is technologically beyond anything else. While Chris’ demonstration today was not delivered at full speed, there is no doubt in my mind that we will one day return to deliver its full potential around this magnificent circuit.”
The Valkyrie was designed by Adrian Newey, Red Bull's Chief Technical Officer. “To finally see Aston Martin Valkyrie running five years from when I first sat down and started sketching what this car could look like is quite an emotional day," said Newey. "With the change in vision angle as it comes past and the noise, it is now doing what it is supposed to be doing which is to move and be dynamic. It has been an enormous push for the team to get it running here today at the home of British motorsport so this is also a special moment for them.”
