If you’re a Formula 1 driver for an OEM manufacturer’s team, you’re usually afforded special privileges with that manufacturer. Take Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin – yes, he has to deal with an inconsistently competitive car, slim odds of actually getting a win, and having Lance Stroll as a teammate, but it also means he has an in with Aston’s bespoke Q division that results in things like this: the manual, 735bhp Aston Martin Valiant.
Alonso was after a lighter, more track-biased version of last year’s retro-inspired Valour, which itself can’t really be accused of being a squidgy pudding of a car. Nevertheless, Aston has turned its 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 up from 705 to 735bhp, although its torque remains unchanged at 555lb ft. Better yet, it still sends all that power through a good old-fashioned manual gearbox.
Aston Martin Valiant – side
You can’t miss the bodywork changes either, most notably that huge integrated rear wing and truly vast diffuser framing a quartet of exhaust pipes. Along the side, new vortex generators provide less disrupted airflow. The 21-inch magnesium wheels are now fitted with aerodiscs, which both bring further aero benefits and look extremely cool.
Those wheels save a total of 14kg of unsprung mass, with further marginal gains contributing to a significant weight reduction over the Valour: a 3D-printed rear subframe sheds 3kg, and a magnesium torque tube knocks 8.6kg out of the car’s central point.
Aston Martin Valiant – interior
Underneath sits a set of Multimatic Adaptive Spool Valve dampers, a trick suspension setup that our tiny minds can’t really comprehend. Each damper can be adjusted to one of 32 distinct settings within six milliseconds. A quick Google tells us that even the fastest of blinks lasts a sluggish 100 milliseconds.
Inside, prominence has unsurprisingly been given to that manual ’box, with an exposed linkage designed to make engineers and enthusiasts alike a little bit hot under the collar. Compared to the valour, there’s also a new steering wheel, an integrated half cage with anchor points for harnesses, and ventilated Recaro Podium seats.
Aston Martin Valiant – rear
As a more hardcore version of the Valour, the Valiant too can trace its roots back to the one-off Victor from a couple of years ago. All three are inspired by the look of Astons of the ’70s and ’80s, particularly the ludicrous RHAM/1 race car – affectionately nicknamed ‘Muncher’.
Alonso said of the project: “Valiant is born from my passion for driving at the limit and I have enjoyed working closely with the Q by Aston Martin team on both the design and technical specification and believe we have created a masterpiece.”
Aston Martin Valiant – interior detail
While it was born as a personal commission for the two-time world champ, Aston will produce a small run of 38, and guess what: they’re all sold out. We have a pretty good idea of who one of those is going to.
