Spyker Squadron
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2017) |
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | 1000 kilometrų lenktynės |
| Noted drivers |  Peter Kox  Norman Simon Hans Hugenholtz Tom Coronel Peter van Merksteijn Sr. Donny Crevels Jeroen Bleekemolen Mike Hezemans  Jonny Kane Peter Dumbreck  Andrea Belicchi  Andrea Chiesa Alex Caffi  Jaroslav Janiš Ralf Kelleners  Alexey Vasilyev |
| Teams' Championships | 2008 1000 kilometrų lenktynės |
The Spyker Squadron was the factory racing team from Dutch sportscar manufacturer Spyker Cars. The team raced in various endurance championships and non-championship races from 2002 to 2010. Daily operations were managed by Peter van Erp, the later Spyker Cars COO.[1]
History
Spyker C8 Double-12R
Reiter Engineering developed the Spyker C8 Double-12R to compete in the 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans GT class. The team debuted the car at the 2002 12 Hours of Sebring with Derek Hill, Peter Kox and Hans Hugenholtz. The team retired after four hours due to accident damage.[2] At the 24 Hours of Le Mans the team retired over halfway through the race. A valve problem in the BMW engine caused the retirement.[3]
The C8 Double-12R was again raced in 2003. Engine trouble again hampered their
Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R
In 2004 the team focused on developing a new variant on the C8, the C8 Spyder GT2-R. The car debuted at the
For 2006 the Spyder was fitted with a roof. The team entered the full 2006 Le Mans Series. The team's best result was a sixteenth place overall, third in class, at the 1000km of Jarama. Both Spykers entered the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans, but both did not finish. In the 2006 Spa 24 Hours the team fought for a fourth place in class most of the race, before having to settle for tenth.
The team scaled down to a single car for the 2007 season. In the Le Mans Series, drivers Mike Hezemans and Peter Dumbreck scored a third place in class finish at the 1000km of Silverstone. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans the team did not finish the race. An engine problem seven hours into the race stopped the car at Tetre Rouge.[9]
In 2008 the car won its final race, the
Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R
Introducing the C8 Laviolette GT2-R in 2008 the team did not finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Three fourth-place finishes in the 2008 Le Mans Series placed the team third in the constructors championship. Despite the main company moving to Coventry, the racing team remained in Zeewolde.[11] The team repeated its performance feat in 2009. The team even scored to second in class finishes at the 1000km of Nürburgring and the 1000km of Silverstone. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans the team finished the race. Drivers Tom Coronel, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Jaroslav Janiš finished the Snoras sponsored car in fifth place in class. Snoras became a major stakeholder in the Spyker Cars company.
In 2010 the team again entered the Le Mans Series as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team again finished the prestigious sports car race, as the last classified car. The team finished in 27th place, 117 laps behind the overall winning car.
Spyker C8 Aileron GTE
In 2011 the team took a sabbatical to develop the C8 Aileron to race in 2012.[12] But as the major shareholder Snoras filed for bankruptcy and a deal with its owner Vladimir Antonov fell through, the team folded.
24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | No. | Model | Engine | Drivers | Class | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 85 | Spyker C8 Double-12R | BMW 3.4L V8 | Peter Kox Norman Simon Hans Hugenholtz |
GT | DNF | DNF |
| 2003 | 85 | Spyker C8 Double-12R | Audi 4.0L V8 | Tom Coronel Norman Simon Hans Hugenholtz |
GT | NC | NC |
| 2005 | 85 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | Tom Coronel Donny Crevels Peter van Merksteijn Sr. |
GT2 | DNF | DNF |
| 2006 | 85 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | Tom Coronel Donny Crevels Peter Dumbreck |
GT2 | DNF | DNF |
| 86 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | Jeroen Bleekemolen Jonny Kane Mike Hezemans |
GT2 | DNF | DNF | |
| 2007 | 85 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | Andrea Belicchi Andrea Chiesa Alex Caffi |
GT2 | DNF | DNF |
| 86 | Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | Jaroslav Janiš Mike Hezemans Jonny Kane |
GT2 | DNF | DNF | |
| 2008 | 85 | Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R | Audi 4.0L V8 | Ralf Kelleners Aleksey Vasilyev Peter Dumbreck |
GT2 | DNF | DNF |
| 2009 | 85 | Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R | Audi 3.8L V8 | Tom Coronel Jaroslav Janiš Jeroen Bleekemolen |
GT2 | 25 | 5 |
| 2010 | 85 | Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R | Audi 4.0L V8 | Tom Coronel Peter Dumbreck Jeroen Bleekemolen |
LMGT2 | 27 | 9 |
Gallery
-
Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R at the 2006 24 Hours of Le mans. -
Spyker C8 Double-12R at the 2003 International Motor Show Germany. -
Spyker C8 Spyder GT2-R at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans -
Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R at the 2008 1000 km of Silverstone.
References
- ^ "Peter van Erp". Linkedin. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "The American Le Mans Series Championship 2002". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Non Championship Races 2002". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "The American Le Mans Series Championship 2003". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Sportscars: Team Orange Spyker gepresenteerd". Autosport.nl. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Sportscars: Le Mans: Dubbelzege voor Bentley, Nederlanders tevreden". Autosport.nl. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Non Championship Races 2005". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Nürburgring 1000 Kilometres". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Spyker Squadron: 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans Race Report". Fourtitude. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "2008 archive". Racing History. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Spyker verhuist naar Engeland". Autoblog. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Sportscars: Spyker Squadron dit seizoen niet in actie". Autosport.nl.