Aston Martin has introduced that it’s to supply an “excessive” road-legal model of its Valour sporstcar, dubbed the Aston Martin Valiant, personally commissioned by F1 legend Fernando Alonso.
Alonso made an on the spot affect at Aston Martin after becoming a member of the staff forward of the F1 2023 season, claiming a complete of eight podium finishes throughout his first yr on the Silverstone-based outfit.
Aston Martin Valiant: Fernando Alonso’s brainchild
Aston Martin introduced earlier this yr that the two-time World Champion had signed a brand new multi-year contract with the staff till no less than the tip of the F1 2026 season – by which era he will probably be 45 – with Alonso describing the deal as a “lifetime mission” that can “preserve me linked with Aston for a lot of, a few years to come back.”
The Aston Martin Valiant is being produced by the corporate’s Q division, which permits homeowners to design the looks of their automobiles.
In a press release, Alonso stated: “Valour was a spectacular celebration of Aston Martin’s one hundred and tenth anniversary and stirred me to create a extra excessive, race automotive impressed model that was monitor centered, whereas additionally delivering an exhilarating drive on [the] street.
“Valiant is born from my ardour for driving on the restrict and I’ve loved working intently with the Q by Aston Martin staff on each the design and technical specification and consider now we have created a masterpiece.”
What’s the Aston Martin Valiant?
Aston Martin introduced the start of the Aston Martin Valiant on June 26 2024, with the automotive initially commissioned by Alonso in collaboration with the producer’s bespoke Q division.
Alonso challenged Aston Martin to create a lighter, extra excessive, motorsport-inspired model of the special-edition Valour produced to mark the marque’s one hundred and tenth anniversary in 2023, which was in flip primarily based on the DBS mannequin.
It’s the second supercar to be instantly influenced by Alonso after the two-time World Champion’s former employers Alpine – with whom he gained each his F1 World Championships in 2005/06 – introduced the manufacturing of the Alpine A110 R Fernando Alonso in October 2022.
Though it was solely revealed after Alonso introduced that he was leaving for Aston Martin, Alpine pressed on with plans to supply 32 variations of the automotive, the quantity chosen to mirror the quantity of grand prix victories achieved by Alonso.
What do we all know in regards to the technical specification of the Aston Martin Valiant?
The Aston Martin Valiant is described as “essentially the most excessive front-engine street automotive ever constructed by Aston Martin” with “the whole lot it is aware of learnt from the monitor.”
It’s geared up with a 5.2-litre, twin-turbocharged V12 engine with a six-speed guide transmission – producing a colossal 745bhp – fade-free carbon ceramic brakes, and a quad-pipe titanium exhaust system.
Marco Mattiacci, Aston Martin’s international model chief who beforehand spent a quick spell as Alonso’s staff principal at Ferrari in 2014, has remarked that the automotive has been handled to an “obsessive weight-reduction” program and it’s on this space of “motorsport-grade lightweighting” the place the Valiant excels.
The methods to scale back weight embody the usage of a 3D-printed rear subframe, which is claimed to shave off 3kg with no affect on stiffness, in addition to a magnesium torque tube that removes 8.6kg from the centre of the automotive.
With a lithium ion battery saving 11kg, and 21-inch magnesium wheels recouping 14kg, the general weight reduction in comparison with the Valour is regarded as within the area of 100kg.
The bodywork of the Valiant has been sculpted in carbon fibre, styled to enhance downforce whereas decreasing drag, with the automotive’s wheelcovers impressed by the Aston Martin ‘Muncher’ automotive that raced within the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1979.
The automotive can also be fitted with state-of-the-art Multimatic dampers, which may regulate to any one in all 32 settings in six milliseconds.
Inside, the two-seater prioritises performance over efficiency with massive areas of uncovered carbon fibre, a built-in metal half cage and racing-style seats fitted with four-point harnesses.
A brand new, round steering wheel with a slimmer body has been fitted and has been stripped of all switches to reinforce the connection between automotive and driver.
The piste de resistance? A big cutaway within the transmission tunnel, exposing the gear linkage.
What number of will probably be made and the way a lot will the Aston Martin Valiant value?
Aston Martin has not disclosed how a lot the Valiant will value, however it’s regarded as value within the area of $2.56million.
The producer has confirmed that 38 Valiants will probably be bought, with excessive ranges of customisation anticipated.
When can I see the Aston Martin Valiant for actual?
The Aston Martin Valiant will make its first public look on the 2024 Goodwood Pageant of Velocity occasion on July 11-14.
Alonso himself will probably be behind the wheel, demonstrating the Valiant’s efficiency on Goodwood’s fan-favourite Hillclimb course.
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