Ian James and Alex Riberas on Aston Martin Valkyrie and 2027 jokers: "We are in the mix everywhere we go now"

Aston Martin Racing closed out last year on a high, with the Valkyrie Hypercar taking second place at Petit Le Mans, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season finale. That result led many to see this season as the one where the team would start pushing towards the front of the field.

At Fuji, GT REPORT spoke with Aston Martin’s Ian James and Alex Riberas about their outlook for the rest of the season and their plans for the future of the Valkyrie Hypercar programme.

Stepping up to the competition

Calling this season a disappointment would be harsh. The #007 car has quietly put together a solid campaign, scoring points in every WEC round so far, including two fourth-place finishes – first at Spa and then earlier this month at COTA. But without a podium in Europe, the effort has flown somewhat under the radar, with newcomer Genesis and soon Ford and McLaren joining the top flight. The sister #009 car has had a tougher road, with its only points finish coming via eighth place in São Paulo two races ago. That lack of a standout result is not down to a lack of pace or competitiveness from the drivers. Converting speed into results in WEC demands a lot of moving parts falling into place at once, and as the season enters its final stretch, those pieces have yet to come together.

Ian James, driver and team principal of Aston Martin THOR, told GT REPORT that despite missing out on the podium, the Valkyrie has taken a noticeable step forward this season. “We are in the mix everywhere we go now, which I think is a testament to the progress we’ve made with the programme. The team is performing very well and the drivers are doing a great job.”

Alex Riberas shares that sentiment. “We have definitely made a step forward compared to last year in terms of our pace. I think we’ve been much more competitive as a team overall. The results have also been a lot more consistent, so that’s something that speaks volumes and shows we’re on the right trajectory.”

Even so, the goal for the rest of the season is clear. “There are many things that we’re proud of, but we would really like to get on that podium before the end of the year.

“If we can get a podium before the end of the year, that would be the perfect way to finish the season on a really good note.”

What’s next for the Aston Martin Valkyrie LMH?

On the future of the Valkyrie Hypercar, James was more cautious. “Obviously, we are evaluating some ‘jokers’ to bring in next year to address some of the weaker areas of the car. But it’s never going to be a night-and-day difference in performance. Hopefully it [the updated Valkyrie] will have a bigger operating window and be easier to drive – all these things that ultimately seem to get the results.”

For Riberas, the key goal for Aston Martin is long-term success, as this is not a one- or two-year programme. Developing the car and working on the updates is all about fine-tuning the small details that matter so much in this championship. “We are just starting right now, but I am very excited for the rest of the winter to see what we can come up with for next year,” said the Spaniard.