Aston Martin's mysterious single-seater has been spotted back on track, and according to Motorsport.com, new footage shows the machine lapping Paul Ricard in the south of France. This latest sighting follows appearances that started online in April, alongside stops at a private airfield and at Portimao in Portugal. Aston Martin has remained completely radio silent about the machine, leaving us to marvel at a fantastic-looking beast that resembles nothing else on the grid.
From the cockpit forward, the design borrows heavily from Formula 1 with a narrow nose, exposed suspension arms, and a halo over the cockpit. Further back, bodywork covers the wheels while the rear end leans on the Valkyrie hypercar, looking closer to a Le Mans prototype. It functions as a cross between an F1 car and a track-only Valkyrie, built with the singular aim to go faster than either.
Back in April, German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reported that the car is a one-off commissioned by Ken Griffin, the American billionaire who founded the Citadel hedge fund. The report states that Griffin asked Aston Martin for the fastest track car in the world, prompting the manufacturer to head to the drawing board. Development is said to be overseen by Aston Martin Performance Technologies, the engineering consultancy linked to its Formula 1 team. Some reports suggest Adrian Newey could be involved, and it certainly looks like something that designer would draw up in his famous notebook.
While nothing has been confirmed regarding the powertrain, outlets hearing the footage agree it sounds like the Cosworth-built 6.5-litre V12 used in the Valkyrie, which makes around 1,160hp with hybrid assistance in the road car. Reports differ on whether the one-off keeps the hybrid system or runs the V12 on its own like the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro, with rumours placing total output at roughly 1,200hp.
The most striking claim from Auto Motor und Sport is that the car could be much faster than an F1 car. Unshackled by regulations, minimum weights, or aero limitations, the possibilities are nearly endless. If it reaches that sort of pace, it could contend for outright track records, including the Porsche 919 Evo's 5min 19.55sec lap of the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Red Bull's RB17, developed under Newey before his move to Aston Martin, targets a similar group of buyers wanting F1-beating pace. For now, the one-off stays in testing while Aston Martin keeps quiet on when the finished car will be shown.
