Imagine pouring millions into a racing program, only to scrap the entire driver lineup after one season. Sounds crazy, right? Well, Aston Martin is doing the opposite! They're betting big on stability, announcing that the same drivers who piloted the Valkyrie hypercar in its debut season will return in 2026. But here's where it gets interesting: can continuity translate into a leap in performance?
Aston Martin's THOR Team is doubling down on its existing talent for the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). This means we'll see the familiar faces of Tom Gamble and Harry Tincknell sharing the #007 Valkyrie, with Ross Gunn providing extra support during those grueling 'endurance' rounds. In the #009 car, Alex Riberas and Marco Sørensen will once again team up, with Roman De Angelis ready to jump in for the long-distance races.
What makes this decision even bolder is the Valkyrie's unique position. It remains the only 'Hypercar' competing in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship—the two most prestigious sportscar series on the planet. That's a lot of pressure!
According to Aston Martin THOR Team Principal Ian James, the decision to retain the drivers stems from the invaluable knowledge and understanding they gained during the Valkyrie's challenging debut season. "The drivers as a group delivered over and above what we asked from them," James stated. "That included a lot of work at the very beginning that required them to dig deep. But it also means that we have generated a hugely valuable hub of understanding and knowledge about Valkyrie that will be valuable as we move into season two."
The Valkyrie, Aston Martin's first 'Le Mans Hypercar' (LMH), made its global debut at the Qatar 1812km race in February, 2025. The program steadily improved throughout the year, accumulating over 22,000 racing miles, including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. While victory eluded them, the team secured several points finishes, highlighted by a fifth-place overall finish at the 6 Hours of Fuji. Riberas even briefly led the Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain. In the IMSA finale at Road Atlanta, the Valkyrie secured its first podium, finishing within a hair's breadth of victory.
At Le Mans, both Valkyrie hypercars successfully completed the race, finishing 12th and 14th, earning Aston Martin its first Manufacturer's World Championship points in the Hypercar Class. Not a bad start, but expectations are undoubtedly higher for 2026. Do you think consistency in the driver lineup is enough to propel the Valkyrie to the top step of the podium? Or will they need more significant upgrades to challenge the established Hypercar giants?
But that's not all! Along with the Valkyrie news, Aston Martin also announced their GT plans for 2026.
The Heart of Racing (THOR), a key Aston Martin partner, will lead the charge with two Vantage LMGT3s in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. This expansion follows two successful single-car campaigns in the series. And this is the part most people miss: the Vantage has quietly become one of the most successful GT cars in the world.
Team Principal Ian James will be back behind the wheel of the #27 THOR Vantage GT3 for his third consecutive season. Joining him in the sister #23 car is American driver Gray Newell, who impressed during the post-season Rookie Test in Bahrain. Newell's promotion to WEC represents a significant step up after a strong debut season in GT World Challenge America.
"I was very surprised but honoured to be asked to race for The Heart of Racing team in WEC in 2026," Newell said. "For the team to be placing this level of trust in me is an immense honour and I'm ready to meet the moment."
Aston Martin is aiming for its 12th GT world championship title in 2026 and next season will mark Vantage's 15th consecutive year in WEC. The Vantage has secured 53 class victories at the world level, making it the second most successful GT car from any manufacturer. It has won races in every WEC class it has contested and has claimed 69 class pole positions. The latest Vantage GT3 recorded three pole positions in 2025, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, expressed full confidence in The Heart of Racing, citing their "quality, the depth of engineering expertise and the intensity of the team's approach to achieving success." He added, "Aston Martin is proud to have THOR represent it in GT racing at the highest level, and we hope and expect exciting results from this expanding partnership." This is a clear statement of intent from Aston Martin. They're not just participating; they're aiming to dominate. But in the cutthroat world of endurance racing, can they deliver on that promise? What do you think about Aston Martin's chances in both the Hypercar and GT classes in 2026? Will sticking with the same drivers prove to be a masterstroke, or will they need to shake things up to truly compete at the highest level?
