Sebring: Spyker qualifying notes

Spyker Squadron, the factory's GT class race team, has qualified its Spyker C8 Double 12R for the 12 Hours of Sebring, to be held on March 16, 2002.

The Spyker Squadron produced a greatly improved performance in qualifying yesterday after overcoming the car's cooling problems in practice on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The modifications made by the team, under Hans Reiter's management, helped the qualifying time to tumble lap after lap, with Peter Kox at the wheel. Driving with full penalties (15% restriction and 70kg) the car made a fastest lap of 2:14.225. The quickest lap time in the GT class was 2:07.460, set by the Porsche 911 GT3 RS of Luhr/Maassen.

Spyker CEO Victor Muller said: "This is our first serious track experience with the car and we've barely scratched the surface of the car's potential. We still have so much room for improvement in its set-up and aerodynamics that, given time, it will be very competitive in the GT class - even with the current penalties. We're striving hard toward losing them one by one, but that will take some time."

Derek Hill and Hans Hugenholtz tested the cars as much as possible and recorded similar time improvements to Peter Kox.

Spyker Squadron has entered two cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2002. One car will driven by Peter Kox, Norman Simon and a third driver, who will be announced within days. The second car will be piloted by Hans Hugenholtz (NL), Dominique Dupuy (F) and Derek Hill (USA).

Spyker took the opportunity to unveil the street version of its (American) Le Mans racer to spectators at Sebring. The Spyker C8 Double 12S is now on display at the Spyker paddock.

The car's European premier will take place during the official opening of the Spyker factory in Zeewolde, the Netherlands, on 21 March, where Spyker Squadron will also present its Le Mans 2002 two-car team. Spyker is honoured to announce that the factory will be opened by Gijs van Lennep, two-time Porsche Le Mans winner (1971 and 1976).

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