Le Mans Series

Spyker LMS Donington race report

© Planetlemans

The day started promising for the Dutch manufacturer of highly exclusive hand-built super cars. With significantly improved weather conditions over yesterday’s showers and the Coronel / Dumbreck driven C8 Spyder about to start from the third position on the grid, the chances to claim a top 5 position were good.^

But the race proofed how tough and challenging endurance races can be. Tom started with a steady race-pace with lap times around 1:34. After a while he increased the pace and after about 20 laps they were producing the same lap times as the top-2 in class and started to come closer to the cars in front of him. But shortly after, still in the early stages of the race, Tom’s C8 Spyder was hit hard on the tires from behind by one of the yellow Lola prototypes.

Tom: “After I was hit I felt immediately that the car had a problem. A few corners later I suddenly lost the car caused by a broken suspension due to the earlier accident”. The accident happened at the back of the track and with the broken suspension it was not possible to return to the garage. Peter van Erp: “This is really sad and should not have happened. In the combined GT classes, so far 4 or 5 cars have already been in contact with prototypes in race accidents”.

The other C8 Spyder, driven by Jonny Kane and Jeroen Bleekemolen, started really well. They worked themselves up into the sixth place in class when Jonny told the team over the radio that there was a problem with the engine. He said that it felt like he hit the rev limiter all the time and the team decided to call him in.

The team thoroughly checked the engine and changed the ECU and thought that the problems were solved. Jeroen took over from Jonny and went out again. For 1.5 laps the car felt good but unfortunately the problems returned. Jeroen returned to the pit where the mechanics removed the floor and after further inspection found that the flywheel was damaged which caused the problems.

Peter van Erp: “We are really disappointed with our results this weekend but on the other hand, if you look at our qualifying times and race pace, one may draw the conclusion that we have closed the gap with the class leaders to 0.5 seconds”.. He continues: “With this in mind I am very positive towards the next race in Jarama, Spain. More tests have been scheduled between now and the last LMS round of the season to further improve the cars. We will definitely say goodbye to the 2005 engine and work on improving the aerodynamic efficiency and balance”.

The last Le Mans Series round in scheduled for 22 to 24 September and will be held on the Jarama track just north of Madrid, Spain.