Tincknell and Riberas confirmed for Aston Martin THOR's WEC campaign

It's neither driver's first rodeo racing Aston Martins, and both have played a vital role in preparing the team's formidable Valkyrie hypercar for the challenge ahead. 

The Valkyrie is nearing the end of its 12,500-km test and development programme, including outings with Michelin after the WEC Bahrain finale at the beginning of November and last weekend's IMSA Sanction test at Daytona, USA. 

The car will debut in the Qatar 1812km on the 28^th February next year and is the only Hypercar competing in both WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championshi, with its maiden IMSA outing will come in the GTP category at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Aston Martin's two cars – #007 and #009 – feature a 6.5-litre naturally V12 bolted to a carbon fibre chassis.

Tincknell returns to Aston Martin after a four-year hiatus driving car #007. The Englishman's last adventure driving an Aston Martin (a Racing Vantage GTE) brought victory at the LMGTE Pro class of the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Alex Lynn and Maxime Martin. He was also the European Le Mans Series champion in 2016 and was overall winner in the 2020 12 Hours of Sebring. 

Tincknell said: "It's an absolute honour to return to Aston Martin for the Valkyrie programme. I believe the car will be a firm fan favourite with its amazing looks and the incredible sound of the V12 engine. It's been exciting to be a part of the initial development testing, and the DNA of the car feels strong. 

"I'm very proud of the hard work everyone has put in so far as we build towards the first race. Everyone at Aston Martin THOR Team has made me feel very welcome, and I know I'm joining a professional outfit. Aston Martin has an incredible history in sportscar racing, and this is really a 'pinch myself moment'. Of course, I have great memories of Le Mans in 2020, and the aim is to repeat that feat with Valkyrie. It's a dream come true."

Riberas, meanwhile, will drive the #009 car, the same number emblazoned on an Aston Martin DBR9 that scored back-to-back GT1 class victories for the brand in the 2007 and 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans. He steps up from the GT category with THOR, a hard-earned promotion after the Spaniard's victories in both WEC in LMGT3 and IMSA's GTD Pro category.

"It is a great honour to be chosen as a driver for such an exciting project," Riberas said. "I have been a part of The Heart of Racing for the past ten years, and to be able to continue my journey with them, now at the pinnacle of endurance racing, is simply a dream come true.

“On top of this, to be given the opportunity to represent such an iconic brand as Aston Martin, which has such a remarkable history both in sportscar racing and at Le Mans, is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

"The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the most spectacular car I have ever driven, and it sounds amazing, so to be able to share it with the fans of motorsport all over the world is something I am very much looking forward to."

Aston Martin THOR Team Principal, Ian James, said: "Both drivers have shown the relevant blend of patience, speed and dedication to the team through the testing phase of the Aston Martin Valkyrie programme and have earned the right to the race seat in 2025. We're all very excited heading into next season, particularly given all the hard work that has gone into it so far. 

"There is still a long road ahead, and I think I speak for all of us when I say we can't wait to go racing with this incredible car. It's a special honour to run a team with this iconic brand and to be able to take the Aston Martin wings back to where they belong, at the very pinnacle of endurance racing."