Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH Makes Waves at Daytona IMSA Test
This past weekend, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship roared back to life with preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway. While the event was a non-mandatory sanctioned test, 31 entries participated, fine-tuning their cars for January’s Roar Before the 24 and the iconic Rolex 24 at Daytona.
GTD Cars Focus on Torque Sensor Testing
The GTD (GT3) field took the spotlight with specific tests focused on new torque sensors. These sensors aim to provide detailed data for Balance of Performance (BOP) adjustments slated for 2025. The Ford Mustang GT3 dominated the weekend sessions, followed by the Porsche 911 GT3R and Lexus RCF GT3, signaling strong pace ahead of the new season.
Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH Debuts
Among the paddock’s roster, the Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH made waves in the paddock. Fielded by the Heart of Racing team, the LMH car captivated attention with its naturally aspirated V12 engine, ditching the hybrid systems completely. Designed to align closely with the production Valkyrie hypercar, the LMH marks Aston Martin’s entry into the IMSA & FIA WEC Championship under the Le Mans Hypercar ruleset.
While the Valkyrie’s pace trailed established GTP competitors such as the Porsche 963 and Acura ARX-06 by over a second, it demonstrated solid reliability with minimal downtime during the weekend’s stints. Despite initial hopes of a Daytona 24 debut, Aston Martin confirmed the Valkyrie’s first IMSA race would be March’s Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, following its World Endurance Championship (WEC) debut at the 1812KM of Qatar in February.
Lamborghini Tops GTP, Cadillac Adjusts to Change
Lamborghini made a strong statement in the GTP class, clocking the fastest lap of the weekend with its SC63. Meanwhile, Cadillac underwent a significant transition, with Wayne Taylor Racing stepping up to field two chassis following Chip Ganassi Racing’s departure from the program. The switch from Acura ARX-06s didn’t hinder Wayne Taylor Racing, as they showed promising speed and consistency in the sessions.
Sparking Excitement for the Rolex
Saturday night’s sessions provided an electrifying spectacle as GTP cars lit up the Daytona banking, experimenting with setup tweaks. With private tests and further preparations on the horizon, anticipation builds for the Roar Before the 24 and the Rolex 24. As the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the rest of the field refine their setups, fans can expect some thrilling battles to come when the green flag drops in January.
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