Aston Martin has announced it will produce an “extreme” street-legal version of its Valor sports car, called the Aston Martin Valiant, personally commissioned by F1 legend Fernando Alonso.
Alonso made an immediate impact at Aston Martin after joining the team ahead of the 2023 F1 season, achieving a total of eight podium finishes in his first year with the Silverstone outfit.
Aston Martin Valiant: the brainchild of Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin announced earlier this year that the two-time world champion has signed a new multi-year contract with the team until at least the end of the 2026 F1 season – by which time he will be 45 – with Alonso describing the deal as a “A lifelong project ” that “will keep me connected to Aston for many, many years to come.”
The Aston Martin Valiant is produced by the company’s Q division, allowing owners to design the look of their car themselves.
In a statement, Alonso said: “Valour was a spectacular celebration of Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary and pushed me to create a more extreme, race car-inspired version that was focused on the track while delivering an exhilarating drive . [the] away.
“Valiant was born from my passion for driving at the limit and I have enjoyed working closely with the Q by Aston Martin team on both design and technical specifications. I believe we have created a masterpiece.”
What is the Aston Martin Valiant?
Aston Martin announced the birth of the Aston Martin Valiant on June 26, 2024, with the car originally commissioned by Alonso in collaboration with the manufacturer’s bespoke Q division.
Alonso challenged Aston Martin to create a lighter, more extreme, motorsport-inspired version of the special edition Valor, produced to mark the marque’s 110th anniversary in 2023, which was itself based on the DBS model.
It is the second supercar directly influenced by Alonso, after the two-time world champion’s former employer Alpine – with whom he won both his F1 World Championships in 2005/2006 – announced the production of the Alpine A110 R Fernando Alonso in October 2022.
Although it was only unveiled after Alonso announced he was leaving for Aston Martin, Alpine went ahead with plans to produce 32 versions of the car, a number chosen to reflect the number of Grand Prix victories Alonso achieved.
What do we know about the technical specification of the Aston Martin Valiant?
The Aston Martin Valiant is described as “the most extreme front-engine road car ever built by Aston Martin” with “everything it knows it learned from the track.”
It comes equipped with a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, a six-speed manual gearbox – delivering a whopping 745 horsepower – fade-free carbon-ceramic brakes and a four-pipe titanium exhaust system.
Marco Mattiacci, Aston Martin’s global brand chief who previously spent a brief stint as Alonso’s team boss at Ferrari in 2014, has noted that the car has been treated to an “obsessive weight reduction program” and that it is in this area of ”motorsport” . lightweight” where the Valiant excels.
The tricks to reduce weight include the use of a 3D printed rear subframe, which is claimed to shave 3kg off without affecting stiffness, as well as a magnesium torque tube that moves 8.6kg from the center of the car removed.
With a lithium-ion battery saving 11kg and 21-inch magnesium wheels returning 14kg, the total weight loss compared to the Valor is believed to be around 100kg.
The Valiant’s bodywork is constructed from carbon fibre, designed to improve downforce whilst reducing drag, with the car’s hubcaps inspired by the Aston Martin ‘Muncher’ car that competed in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979.
The car is also equipped with state-of-the-art Multimatic dampers, which can adjust to one of 32 settings in six milliseconds.
Inside, the two-seater prioritizes functionality over performance, with large areas of exposed carbon fiber, a built-in steel half cage and racing seats fitted with four-point seat belts.
A new, round steering wheel with a slimmer frame has been fitted and is stripped of all switches to improve the connection between car and driver.
The piste de resistance? A large cutout in the transmission tunnel, exposing the gear train.
How many will be made and how much will the Aston Martin Valiant cost?
Aston Martin hasn’t revealed how much the Valiant will cost, but it’s believed to be worth around $2.56 million.
The manufacturer has confirmed that 38 Valiants will be sold, with a lot of customization expected.
When can I see the Aston Martin Valiant in real life?
The Aston Martin Valiant will make its first public appearance at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed event on July 11-14.
Alonso himself will be behind the wheel and demonstrate the Valiant’s performance on Goodwood’s favorite Hillclimb course.
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