Latest on IMSA Weathertech Sports Car Championship (IMSA)

Emerging from its most remarkable performance to date, the impressive Aston Martin Valkyrie accelerates toward the conclusion of its inaugural season in international competition this weekend as the IMSA Weathertech Sports Car Championship (IMSA) advances with the Tirerack.com Battle on the Bricks at the renowned Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IN). 

Short History of the Aston Martin THOR team

Valkyrie’s debut United States campaign, orchestrated by the Aston Martin THOR team, reached its pinnacle last time at Road America. The British ultra-luxury high-performance marque’s all-new Valkyrie secured its first top six finish following a formidable weekend. 

With only two races left in the 2025 IMSA season—the premier sports car championship in North America—the objective is to sustain the vehicle’s progressively competitive performance and conclude the year on a high note. 

Indianapolis marks the fourth event of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup—a series that includes five races lasting longer than the standard two hours and forty minutes. Valkyrie made its IMSA debut at the second event, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, in March, and also performed admirably at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen in July. 

About The Drivers

Drivers Roman De Angelis (CAN) and Ross Gunn (GBR) have participated in every IMSA event at ‘The Brickyard’ since the reintroduction of its 2.4-mile road course to the series in 2023. On each occasion, both drivers operated The Heart of Racing (THOR) Team’s Aston Martin Vantage GT3s. Gunn achieved a second-place finish in IMSA’s GTD Pro class in 2023 and a fifth-place result the previous year, while De Angelis finished fourth in the GTD class (for GT3 vehicles) in 2023 and sixth the following season after transitioning to GTD Pro. 

Being the sole entry derived from a road-legal hypercar contesting in either IMSA or the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Valkyrie is developed from its production variant by Aston Martin and THOR. The competitive model integrates a race-optimized carbon fiber chassis with a modified 6.5-liter V12 power unit that revs to 11,000 rpm and generates over 1000 bhp in standard form, while adhering to a strict 500 kW (680 bhp) power limit in accordance with hypercar regulations. 

Aston Martin On Top

Valkyrie positions Aston Martin in the top tier of US sports car racing for the first time since 2011, a season during which five overall victories and seven podium finishes were recorded in the American Le Mans Series. 

What The Team Said...

Ross Gunn, driver of the 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “I am eagerly anticipating getting back in the car at Indianapolis. While there has been a substantial hiatus in the IMSA calendar, The Heart of Racing Team and Aston Martin have worked exceptionally hard to implement enhancements to the Valkyrie package. It appears to thrive with every race it participates in. Arriving at the gates of the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a surreal experience, and as we enter the final stretch of the season, we are solely focused on building upon our best result at Road America last time out. Our goal is to surpass that, continue our learning process, and, most importantly, enjoy ourselves! ” 

Roman De Angelis, driver 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “I am eager to return to competition after what seems like an extended hiatus since Road America. I feel optimistic coming to Indianapolis after our initial top-six finish with Valkyrie in our last outing, a result that significantly enhanced team morale and confidence in striving for an even more favorable outcome this weekend. The time off has been beneficial for me to prepare thoroughly for the six hours of racing that lie ahead, and I am greatly anticipating resuming collaboration with Aston Martin Team THOR. ” 

Ian James, Team Principal, Aston Martin THOR Team: “The advancements we are making with Valkyrie in both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship are evident. At Road America, we experienced our most competitive race to date, finishing in the top six for the first time, thanks to some astute strategic decisions and the performance consistency we are achieving with the car. This weekend, we have the privilege of bringing Valkyrie to one of the most renowned racing venues in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and we are determined to maintain the ongoing improvements we have witnessed in what promises to be the first of two exceptionally demanding races at the conclusion of the car’s inaugural IMSA season. ” 

Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport: “With merely two IMSA races remaining in Valkyrie’s debut season, the advancements both the vehicle and the Aston Martin THOR team have made in 2025 have been steady and promising. This was well exemplified by the programme’s first top-six finish during our last race at Road America; Valkyrie’s sixth consecutive top-10 result. Despite being the newest GTP car, Valkyrie has demonstrated remarkable reliability and has performed admirably in the lengthy ‘endurance’ races on circuits as formidable as Sebring and Watkins Glen. We aim to sustain that progression through the final races as we strive for continual improvement. ”