Aston Martin has announced that it will enter its Adrian Newey-designed Valkyrie hypercar into the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2021.
The World Endurance Championship's upcoming change of regulations will allow for hypercars to be entered into the series' 2019/20 super season.
The Valkyrie is the brainchild of Red Bull Racing's Newey who worked alongside Marek Reichman and David King.
For Le Mans, where Aston Martin will enter two cars, the Valkyrie will be powered by a souped-up version of its normally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine.
"We have always said that we would one day bring Aston Martin back to Le Mans with the intention of going for the outright win when the time was right – now is that time," said Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO Andy Palmer
"David Brown came here in 1959, with a car and a team of drivers capable of winning. We intend to do the same in 2021.
"The Aston Martin Valkyrie is primed for such a challenge and sits perfectly within the ACO’s new ‘hypercar’ rule framework.
"Bringing to bear all of our previous experience and knowledge of competing at the top levels of motorsport, we embark on this most ambitious project with the necessary ingredients for success.
"What could be more evocative than the wail of an Aston Martin V12 leading the charge into the night on the Mulsanne straight?"
Aston Martin Vice President and Chief Special Operations Officer David King added:
"The FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans represent the ultimate challenge for the Aston Martin Valkyrie – the world’s most extreme hypercar.
"Designed and built with the purpose of pushing boundaries on the road, it’s natural to conclude that the next stage in its development would be to measure its capabilities on the track.
"I can think of no better way to do that than to compete in a world championship and the most prestigious and famous race of all."
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