valiant, a road-legal and track-focused car from aston martin
Aston Martin has introduced its newest addition to its automobiles, Valiant. Designed as both a race track and road-legal vehicle with all carbon-fiber bodywork, the car was initially commissioned by the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team driver, Fernando Alonso. He wanted a lighter, more race-inspired version of the Aston Martin Valour, and the car manufacturer’s specialized team, ‘Q by Aston Martin’, brings his vision to life by personalizing a vehicle, now the Valiant. From being a commission to a limited-edition vehicle, there are 38 units of Aston Martin road-legal and track-focused cars expected to be produced; all of them are already sold.
Aston Martin’s challenge is for the specs of a road-legal and track-focused car to be fused into one. With Valiant, a 3D printed rear subframe is installed to make the vehicle 3 kilos lighter without sacrificing its strength, and a magnesium torque tube reduces the car’s weight by 8.6 kilos to improve its overall handling. For the wheels, Valiant has 21-inch magnesium tires, specially sized to bring the weight down by 14 kilos, further improving the overall steering and handling of the vehicle. To finish the setup, a motorsport-grade lithium-ion battery saves another 11.5 kilos, contributing to the overall weight reduction.
all images courtesy of Aston Martin
Carbon fiber components to make the car lightweight
The Aston Martin Valiant is mostly made of carbon fiber, which can help make the car lightweight, fast and agile. Its bodywork is designed to be broad and muscular, accentuated by its sharp features. These design elements help keep it stable at high speeds and reduce air resistance. Touching on its aerodynamics, the front splitter emerges to improve the car’s grip and control, and the end planes are added to smooth out the airflow around the front wheels, reducing drag and prompting the vehicle to move faster. Carbon fiber is also used for the grill at the front, which allows more air to flow into the engine to keep it cool.
Valiant also has deeply sculpted side fenders and carbon-fiber covers around its 21-inch magnesium wheels, all smoothing out the airflow along the sides of the car. These wraps can reduce the air resistance and lift as well, which can keep the car stable and grounded, and their design is inspired by an old racing car from 1980 called the RHAM/1 ‘Muncher’ that raced in Le Mans. There are six openings in the aero discs that allow cool air to flow onto the brakes too, ensuring they stay at the right temperature for optimal performance during high-speed driving. Additional openings around the edge of the wheels let the heat from the brakes escape, preventing them from overheating.
the end has a sharp, flat back design dubbed Kamm tail, as well as a rear deck that angles upwards
‘Kamm tail’ with a hinged panel for storage space
Going to the rear of the Aston Martin Valiant, the end has a sharp, flat back design dubbed Kamm tail as well as a rear deck that angles upwards. It also has a prominent fixed wing on top that may help balance the car’s aerodynamic performance by increasing downforce, which helps keep the car stable at high speeds. The back of the road-legal and track-focused car is a single, solid piece that includes a hinged panel, which opens to reveal a storage space that is ideal for keeping race helmets and racing clothes.
The touch of race also comes forth in the cabin of the road-legal car. Valiant has a cockpit that seats two people, and Aston Martin uses a lot of exposed satin-finish carbon fiber to keep the car light. The seats also have padding and are covered in lightweight materials for comfort and a luxurious feel. The vehicle also has a new steering wheel that is tailored to Valiant: it is round with a slimmer rim and spokes without switches, making the new setup feel intuitive and free of distractions. The gearshift has been developed to have equal weight and feel, with a new spherical gear knob and H-pattern shifting for precise gear changes.
the magnesium torque tube reduces the car’s weight by 8.6 kilos to improve its overall handling
The road-legal and track-focused car has a 5.2-liter V12 engine with twin turbochargers, producing 745 horsepower and 753 Nm of torque. It uses a six-speed manual transmission to give the driver more control, and a set of carbon ceramic brakes makes the vehicle strong and still effective even under heavy use.
While Aston Martin may have designed a road-legal car, the Valiant might still primarily be for racetrack use. In fact, it comes with a built-in half-cage made of steel that can help protect the driver in case of an accident. It also serves as a strong anchor point for attaching special seat belts called 4-point race harnesses, which keep the driver securely in place during high-speed driving.
a 3D printed rear subframe is installed to make the vehicle 3 kilograms lighter without sacrificing its strength
The Valiant is equipped with specially trimmed Recaro Podium seats that can offer support for the sides and shoulders of the driver, which is crucial during fast and sharp turns. These chairs also have innovative padding that includes passive thorax ventilation, meaning they help keep the driver cool and comfortable during intense driving.
As of publishing the story, the first deliveries of the Aston Martin Valiant are due to start in the fourth quarter of 2024. The road-legal and track-focused car is set to make its public debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed between July 11th and 14th. During the event, Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso will take the car for a demo spin.
Valiant has a cockpit that seats two people
a new steering wheel is tailored to Valiant, which is round with a slimmer rim and spokes without switches
