The Aston Martin Valkyrie is set to make its American racing debut at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, following its recent world racing debut in Qatar. Driver Ross Gunn and The Heart of Racing team face significant challenges as they introduce this V12-powered hypercar to US soil.

The Qatar debut proved challenging, with one Valkyrie losing its door and another retiring early due to gearbox issues. However, Gunn remains optimistic while acknowledging the team's position: "We're under no illusions how difficult the task is ahead of us. We're kind of in the deep end, being two years behind everybody else."

Sebring presents unique challenges with its jagged pavement, Florida heat, and minimal runoff areas. Despite these obstacles, the team aims to maximize track time and gather crucial data for development. "Our aim is to try and bring the noise to Sebring, try and gain as much mileage as we can," Gunn explains.

The Valkyrie stands out in two key areas:

• Sound: Its naturally aspirated V12 engine rivals only the Cadillac V-Series.R's V8
• Aesthetics: The distinctive shape ranks high among fan favorites

The team maintains realistic expectations while working to close the gap with established IMSA GTP competitors like Porsche, Cadillac, Acura, and BMW. Gunn, alongside co-drivers Roman de Angelis and Alex Riberas, will stay in Sebring for additional testing after the 12 Hours race.

"A successful season for us would be, by the end of the year, challenging the establishment," Gunn states. "If you can get through Sebring, you can almost get through any race. So having this challenge quite early on in our program is really important."

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