In an exciting fusion of elite motorsport and bespoke automotive know-how, Aston Martin brought the Valiant, a track-focused supercar commissioned through Fernando Alonso, the famous two-time Formula 1 champion, behind the wheel of the F1 team of Aston Martin. Stemming from the exclusive roots of the 2024 Valor model, the Valiant was designed to push performance barriers, with a physically powerful 5. 2-liter twin-turbo V12 engine generating 734 hp. Its public debut is highly anticipated next month at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. .
Only 38 sets of the Valiant will be produced through Aston Martin’s Q division, which specialises in bespoke vehicles, capturing the essence of exclusivity and performance. This initiative not only advances the inventions observed in the Valor, but also introduces extensive innovations influenced by Alonso. Noted for his precision and passion, Alonso was looking for an “extreme” racing car for the road.
Under his leadership, the Valiant amplifies the capabilities of the Valor, expanding its power to 29 hp while maintaining an impressive 555 lb-ft of torque. A significant improvement is the inclusion of a six-speed manual gearbox, which accentuates the commitment of the driving force. Marco Mattiacci highlighted the meticulous improvements:
“The car has been the subject of an ‘obsessive weight reduction’ program. “This includes a state-of-the-art 3D-designed rear subframe and ultra-light parts that reduce around a hundred kilos compared to its predecessor, optimizing agility and performance.
The Valiant’s aerodynamic design is a technological marvel. It uses carbon fiber extensively in its body and internal components. Key features include a pronounced front splitter, F1-inspired multi-layer trim plates and intricate aerodynamic wheel discs that enhance its dynamic capabilities. Additionally, the vehicle’s cooling and braking systems are optimized with six brake cooling inlets and a giant rear diffuser, designed using complex computational fluid dynamics, as well as high-performance carbon ceramic brakes.
Inside, the Valiant promises a racecar-like vibe with a two-seater configuration designed around motorsport utility. The interior features exposed carbon fiber, a minimalist circular idler, a redesigned gear selector, and a metal half-cage. The seats are premium Reautomobileo Podium racing seats, designed to be compatible with four-point racing harnesses, which can be obtained in final equipment by adding Alcantara or semi-aniline leather with custom inserts.
Worth close to £2 million per unit, the Valiant also offers extensive customisation, ensuring that of the 38 models it remains as exclusive as its owners.
This ambitious task underlines Aston Martin’s relentless quest to fuse high-performance engineering with sumptuous and exclusive bespoke automotive design, heavily influenced by one of motorsport’s giants, Fernando Alonso. The Aston Martin Valiant is not just a car; It’s one of the heights that private vision and complex engineering can reach when combined under the banner of an iconic automaker.
Alex Harrington has been a journalist for 8 years, specializing in technology and motorsports politics for newspapers such as Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, and Newsweek.
You can watch it on the F1Briefings podcast and the F1Briefings YouTube channel.
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