Top Gear: The Stig Dominates in a £3m Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro - Ultimate Hypercar Test

Welcome to another thrilling episode of the Top Gear Tunnel Run. This time, Becky Evans takes us into the Stig’s top-secret domain, where the perfect setting awaits for a celebration of old school combustion engine sounds. The stage is set in the high-tech Catesby tunnel test centre, with Stig ready to unleash chaos in the world’s loudest car. For anyone intrigued by the historical significance of Catesby and its many features, make sure to revisit the first video in this series.

The Extreme Arena: Catesby Tunnel and Weather Challenges

Becky paints a compelling picture of the Catesby tunnel’s chilly track temperature—an advantageous environment for engines but a tricky one for traction with racing slicks. This becomes particularly relevant as the featured car is none other than the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro. This beast, named after a mythical Norse maiden and conceptualized in Gaeden (the sacred ground for Aston Martin and its motorsport division), stands as a testament to elite engineering.

A Brief Glance Back: The Road-Going Valkyrie

In 2016, Aston Martin embarked on the ambitious mission of creating an F1 car for everyday streets—a Grand Prix experience bundled with number plates and sat-nav. However, packaging Formula One-level speed into a road-legal entity is akin to capturing lightning in a bottle. Enter the ultimate Brains Trust: a collaboration between Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing, and Adrian Newey, the genius behind numerous victorious F1 cars. This collaborative brainchild resulted in a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, co-conceived with Cosworth, yielding an astounding 1,000 horsepower with an additional 150 from a hybrid system.

Meet the Valkyrie’s Wild Brother: AMR Pro

If the road-going Valkyrie sounds extraordinary, brace yourself for the Valkyrie AMR Pro. This is not just a car; it's a £3.5m hypercar marvel. Its price alone dwarfs standard models and even its road-focused sibling. A quarter of a tonne lighter and stripped of the hybrid system, the AMR Pro pushes speed boundaries into uncharted realms. Incredibly, it shares only three elements with its road-legal counterpart: the name, engine, and headlights, rendered into an entirely race-focused package with pronounced aero features, ultralight carbon fibre bodywork, and Perspex windows.

Race-Ready and Awaiting Glory

From 2025, the Valkyrie will officially compete in prestigious endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona. Aston Martin aims to echo past racing legends, hoping to reclaim their position at the forefront of motorsport prestige, not seen since their 1959 Le Mans victory. But what about the AMR owners who can’t legally drive these machines on public roads? Aston Martin provides a solution with exclusive track days on Formula 1 circuits worldwide, complete with VIP treatment, pro instruction, racewear, and ear protection.

The Tunnel Run: Earsplitting Adventure

That brings us to the tunnel run itself. The Stig is tasked with maximizing noise over two exhilarating runs, covering nearly three and a half miles. Immediately, we hear the beast roar, touching 101 decibels—akin to standing amid a heavy metal concert. Intriguingly, the AMR Pro uses an innovative start mechanism: an electric motor that nudges the car to 25 mph, akin to a rolling start at Le Mans. As Stig revs up to 11,000 rpm, the sound is nothing short of insanity, a testament to engineering prowess.

From Microphone Magic to Sonic Sorcery

To enrich the experience, Becky introduces ‘Mike,’ a dummy head fitted with microphones that record in 3D. This advanced tech aims to bring the immersive sound of the tunnel run directly to viewers' ears, making it feel as if they were in the passenger seat themselves. The emphasis is on natural, immersive listening, giving a whole new meaning to high-fidelity sound.

For true petrolheads and tech enthusiasts, this episode serves as an auditory and visual feast, capturing the essence of hypercar performance like never before. Buckle up and witness an unparalleled experience of automotive mastery.