General
About Spyker Squadron
Spyker's factory race team
Spyker's factory race team
Racing is of key importance to Spyker as it breeds the brand and highlights the endurance and performance capabilities of the cars. Spyker therefore has its own factory race team: Spyker Squadron. Spyker Squadron is totally dedicated to racing and has developed Spyker's race cars entirely.
On September 11, 2001, Spyker introduced its first endurance race model, the Spyker C8 Double12 R during the IAA in Frankfurt, Germany. With this race car, Spyker Squadron participated in the 12-hours of Sebring and the 2002 and 2003 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this race is considered to be the most demanding and grueling of all endurance races. The company won its first victory during the 2003 Le Mans: finishing 10th in class and 30th overall.
In March 2005, during the 75th International Motor Show of Geneva, Spyker officially introduced its new race car, the Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R. This race car is the race version of the production car Spyker C8 Spyder and is entirely developed in-house by Spyker Squadron.
The Spyker C8 Spyder GT2R runs the Audi V8 engine used in all road cars. The race version of this engine has been developed in-house by Spyker Squadron's technical team, headed by Peter van Erp and is mated to a Hewland six speed sequential gearbox.
The company has already won two major victories with its new race model, the Spyder GT2R. This race car obtained two podium places in 2005 by finishing second in its class in September 2005 during the LMES 1000km of Nurburgring (LMGT2 class), Germany and in November 2005 during the FIA GT (GT2 class) race in Dubai.
Inspired by the encouraged results in 2005, Spyker has expanded its 2006 race program in 2006 by entering two factory Spyker C8 Spyder GT2Rs in 10 races including Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, all Le Mans Endurance series races and some FIA GT races.
The start of the 2007 season was a bit disappointing but the team swiftly recovered in the last races with a podium position in the 1000 km of Silverstone and a well deserved 4th in the Mil Milhas of Brasil.
Based on all the lessons learned with the Spyder's, new cars were built for 2008. Two C8 Laviolette's, one factory car and one private entry, competed in the Le Mans Series, the 24 Heures du Mans and the 1000 km Omitel race in Lithuania. The team won the Omnitel 1000 km race and claimed the third place in the Le Mans Series GT2 manufacturers championship with their new C8 Laviolette GT2R.
2009 was the most successful year so far for the team. The Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R finished fifth in the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before taking two second place finishes in Le Mans Series at the Nürburgring and Silverstone.
In 2010 the team will again race in the Le Mans Series and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R is available to privateers. The factory provides full service to privateers throughout Europe and the United States.
As a serious and challenging participant during the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Spyker Squadron offers interesting opportunities to partners. By becoming a partner, the partner and its guests also become members of the highly select inner circle of the world's most renowned race events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
