This is Fernando Alonso’s ‘extreme’ Aston Martin: the V12, manual-only Valiant

Fernando is faster than you. Proof of that immortal line comes not just in his two Formula One world championships, an undimmed talent for speed and lightning cockpit wit, but in this big, bronze supercar.

Because this big, bronze supercar is called the Aston Martin Valiant, and it exists chiefly because Alonso wanted something spikier, harder, and racier than last year’s gloriously unhinged, already lightning-fast V12 Valour. Yes, exactly what we thought too.

But while they broke the mould when they made Alonso, Aston clearly didn’t when it built this Valiant. Looks just like the Valour. And the Victor before it. And neither of those cars are what you’d call ‘embarrassing, very embarrassing’.

Which means the squared-off, you-looking-at-me aesthetic is transferred over pretty much wholesale from the Valour, barring a few important updates. Of course, the inspiration for this entire series of cars comes from an Aston way before it all – the V8 Vantage-based RHAM/1 ‘Muncher’ Le Mans car that raced in the late Seventies.

Would’ve loved to have heard ‘Nando’s on-board had he raced the V8 in that era: the car got its ‘Muncher’ nickname because it rinsed through brake discs at a scary rate.

So, scary nickname, scary looks. The Valiant’s entire body is built from carbon fibre, with a magnificently angry, almost shark-like nose squaring off a low, wide and unashamedly muscular silhouette. Aston tells us “every inch of the Valiant’s immaculately sculpted form serves an aesthetic and aerodynamic function”. We reckon they went to town on the former and slapped on a wing to pacify the latter.

Missed it? It’s one of the biggest changes over the Valour. A fixed wing, it was shaped of course to work with the new front splitter in a bid to muscle the air around it into forms that’d aid performance. But mostly, we reckon they just made it look super angry and hoped for the best.

Further concessions to aerodynamic performance come via front end planes, aero discs on the 21in magnesium wheels with special inlets to cool the carbon ceramic brakes (so, technically it’s not a ‘Muncher’ anymore), and a new rear diffuser.

In a neat touch, there’s a one-piece clamshell rear featuring a hinged screen panel that opens up a small space where you can store your helmets and fireproofs, or perhaps a nice deckchair if indeed you’ve overcooked the brakes and need a breather where you can fire up yet more F1 memes.

Speaking of fire, that engine. Yeesh. It’s certainly not going to get done by a ‘GP2 engine’, chiefly because GP2 doesn’t exist anymore and also because it’s a bona-fide heavyweight. Under the Valiant’s carbon fibre skin lurks a version of Aston’s 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 producing 735bhp and 555lb ft of torque. That’s up 30 horses from the Valour before it, but 100 horses down on the One 77-engined Victor which, don’t forget, was a naturally-aspirated V12.

Still, that grunt is marshalled to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox – that’s right, a proper manual – and harnessed via monster carbon ceramic discs (410mm up front, 360mm at the back) and special Multimatic ‘ASV’ dampers (Adaptive Spool Valve). Apparently these shiny new items can adjust each damper to “one of thirty-two discreet damper curves in less than six milliseconds”. Clearly, Alonso’s already tried damper adjustment; better for the dampers to ‘try yourself’.

So, hugely adaptable motorsport-level suspension for one of motorsport’s most adaptable drivers. These ASV dampers have made Aston recalibrate the Valiant’s drive modes which run from Sport, Sport+ through to Track. You’ll note there’s no mention of ‘normal’ because nothing is normal about this thing.

Yes, it’s spun off Aston’s ‘bonded aluminium sportscar platform’ (read: what the Vantage uses) but hugely modified of course, with bespoke details. Like a 3D-printed rear subframe that saves 3kg. And a magnesium torque tube that reduces mass at the centre of the car by another 8.6kg. The wheels save unsprung mass by 14kg. Even the battery’s Alonso-spec: a motorsport unit that saves 11.5kg alone.

So you’ll be wary of what you had for breakfast before a circuit romp. Not least because Aston’s deployed all manner of lightweight materials inside, too – carbon fibre finished in satin, Recaros, heck, even “lightweight upholstery”. You’ve got to admire Aston’s ‘sense of humour’.

There’s a new, slimmer steering wheel, and exposed gear linkage for the six-speeder. Oh, there’s also a roll-cage with anchor points for four-point harnesses, and there are bespoke door panels that again, reduce weight over its predecessor.

“Valiant is born from my passion for driving at the limit,” said Alonso, “and I believe we have created a masterpiece.” There’ll be 38 of these ‘masterpieces’ built, and as you’d expect, they’ve all already been allocated at a price of around £2m a pop. Don’t worry if you’re not as quick as ‘Nando in one of these, though; perhaps a career in camera-operating beckons.