32 GP RACING APRIL 2020
PRO^03 Engineering
Red Bull Advanced Technologies
part of the car – and directly
related toF1 design and
manufacturer. The engine is
bolted direct to the tub asa
stressed member, with the rear
suspension hung off theseven-
speed Ricardo automated manual
gearbox, a layoutthat has been
central to the ethos of F1 since
Colin Chapman came upwith the
Cosworth DFV-powered Lotus 49
in 1967. Newey has recalled how
the 49 inspired him as a boy – and
he even owns onetoday.
This being a Newey creation,
aerodynamics are as vitalas p ower- and even here the normally
aspirated configurationplayed its
part. Turbos would have required
intercoolersand when you look at thecar’s otherworldly
shrink-wrappedlines, you wonder where they might have
been placed. Agai n, no compromise– and ithas resulted in
an incredible1816kg (4000lbs)of downforce at top speed.
Bosch has provided the engine control unit, complete
with traction control and electronic stability control (no F1
limits in this regard, of course), while Alcon and Surface
Transforms supply the callipers and carbon-ceramic brakes.
Tyres come not from Pirelli, but Michelin. The French
company’s highly regarded performance Pilot Sport Cup 2
rubber issized at 20in on thefront, 21in on the rear.
Not enough for you? There’s also an AMR track
performance pack owners can add that includes an
aerodynamic ‘clam’ for the nose and other exterior body-
parts for extra circuit speed, all of which can be removed to
convert the car back to ‘standard’ road spec at the end of a
busy track day. But then there’s the Valkyrie AMR Pro, too- a full track version, of which only 25 will be built.
Just 150 ofthe ‘standard’ Valkyrie(quote marks are surely
always requiredin this context)will be sold –for around
£2.4 million. Yes, each. And thosewith their name against
one includes a certain David Marshall Coulthard, once of Red
Bull’s F1team. Yes,we know,he’s a Sc ot... Why, DC?
“I’ve got an order on a Valkyrie because itwill be
something special,” says the 13-time grand prix winner.
“Am I ever going toexploit that ‘specialness’ on the road?
Of course not. But the reason I can afford one is that Idrove
most of my career in Adrian Newey cars! So the least I can
do is have one.”
Coulthard’s dozen years in F1 surely means he had his
fill of ultimate automotiveperf ormance. But his interest in
hypercars goes beyond sheer speed.
“I also have an order on aProject Onebecaus e I’ m a
Mercedes ambassador, too,”he reveals, referringto the
AMG-developed hypercar thatis similarly inspired by F1–
now officially knownjust as One.“Again it’llbe something
Afterthephotos,both
VerstappenandAlbon
gottoexperiencethe
Valkyrie’sfirst-hand“AM I EVER GOING
TO EXPLOIT THAT
‘SPECIALNESS’
ON THEROAD?
OF COURSE NOT.
BUT THE REASON
I CAN AFFORD
ONE IS THAT I
DROVE MOST OF
MY CAREER IN
ADRIAN NEWEY
CARS! SO THE
LEAST I CAN DO
IS HAVE ONE”
DAVID COULTHARD32 GP RACING APRIL 2020
PRO^03 Engineering
Red Bull Advanced Technologies
part of the car – and directly
related toF1 design and
manufacturer. The engine is
bolted direct to the tub asa
stressed member, with the rear
suspension hung off theseven-
speed Ricardo automated manual
gearbox, a layoutthat has been
central to the ethos of F1 since
Colin Chapman came upwith the
Cosworth DFV-powered Lotus 49
in 1967. Newey has recalled how
the 49 inspired him as a boy – and
he even owns onetoday.
This being a Newey creation,
aerodynamics are as vitalas p ower- and even here the normally
aspirated configurationplayed its
part. Turbos would have required
intercoolersand when you look at thecar’s otherworldly
shrink-wrappedlines, you wonder where they might have
been placed. Agai n, no compromise– and ithas resulted in
an incredible1816kg (4000lbs)of downforce at top speed.
Bosch has provided the engine control unit, complete
with traction control and electronic stability control (no F1
limits in this regard, of course), while Alcon and Surface
Transforms supply the callipers and carbon-ceramic brakes.
Tyres come not from Pirelli, but Michelin. The French
company’s highly regarded performance Pilot Sport Cup 2
rubber issized at 20in on thefront, 21in on the rear.
Not enough for you? There’s also an AMR track
performance pack owners can add that includes an
aerodynamic ‘clam’ for the nose and other exterior body-
parts for extra circuit speed, all of which can be removed to
convert the car back to ‘standard’ road spec at the end of a
busy track day. But then there’s the Valkyrie AMR Pro, too- a full track version, of which only 25 will be built.
Just 150 ofthe ‘standard’ Valkyrie(quote marks are surely
always requiredin this context)will be sold –for around
£2.4 million. Yes, each. And thosewith their name against
one includes a certain David Marshall Coulthard, once of Red
Bull’s F1team. Yes,we know,he’s a Sc ot... Why, DC?
“I’ve got an order on a Valkyrie because itwill be
something special,” says the 13-time grand prix winner.
“Am I ever going toexploit that ‘specialness’ on the road?
Of course not. But the reason I can afford one is that Idrove
most of my career in Adrian Newey cars! So the least I can
do is have one.”
Coulthard’s dozen years in F1 surely means he had his
fill of ultimate automotiveperf ormance. But his interest in
hypercars goes beyond sheer speed.
“I also have an order on aProject Onebecaus e I’ m a
Mercedes ambassador, too,”he reveals, referringto the
AMG-developed hypercar thatis similarly inspired by F1–
now officially knownjust as One.“Again it’llbe something
Afterthephotos,both
VerstappenandAlbon
gottoexperiencethe
Valkyrie’sfirst-hand
“AM I EVER GOING
TO EXPLOIT THAT
‘SPECIALNESS’
ON THEROAD?
OF COURSE NOT.
BUT THE REASON
I CAN AFFORD
ONE IS THAT I
DROVE MOST OF
MY CAREER IN
ADRIAN NEWEY
CARS! SO THE
LEAST I CAN DO
IS HAVE ONE”
DAVID COULTHARD