24 Hours of Le Mans

Spyker Squadron announces 2010 motorsport plans

© Planetlemans – Marcel ten Caat // The Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R in its 2009 livery

Following last year’s fifth place in the Le Mans-GT2 category, Spyker Squadron, the factory race team of Spyker Cars, has received an invitation from the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 12 and 13 June 2010.

In addition to competing in one of the most gruelling and famous races on the international motorsports calendar, the Dutch team, with Convers Group as its principal sponsor, will also campaign in the 2010 Le Mans Series championship (LMS). The team will look to build on its most successful campaign in 2009, where it achieved second places at the Nürburgring and Silverstone rounds and finished third in the overall constructor standings.

For 2010, the five-round LMS replaces visits to Spain and Germany in favour of an 8 hour opening round at one of Europe’s most beautiful tracks, Paul Ricard in France, and a 1000 km race at the Hungaroring.

Scotsman Peter Dumbreck will drive the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R in all rounds of the Le Mans Series. At Spa, the Hungaroring and Silverstone he will be partnered by Dutchman Tom Coronel. Another Dutchman, Jeroen Bleekemolen will accompany Peter in the LMS opening round at Paul Ricard and in Portugal. The trio will share the car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Peter van Erp, Managing Director of Spyker Squadron explains: “We have decided to race with a familiar driver line-up for both the Le Mans Series races and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After an impressive 2009 season, we anticipate extreme competition this year and inviting Tom, Jeroen and Peter to drive the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R brings a huge advantage as they are very familiar with the Series, team and the car.

“At the same time we know exactly what our drivers are capable of as a trio of top-flight, highly-regarded racers. Peter Dumbreck is competing in the FIA GT1 world-cup schedule, Jeroen Bleekemolen in both the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the Porsche Super Cup, and Tom Coronel in the WTCC. We will undoubtedly benefit from them competing in other world class series.”

Peter continues: “We are planning to use the same strategy as at Le Mans last year. We are not seeking a steady pace just to finish races, as we did in our first few years of competition, but instead to give 100% in every race to achieve podium finishes. Of course we will be able to improve our pace this year, and despite BMW, Jaguar and Corvette joining us in the field of Aston Martins, Porsches and Ferraris in the GT2 class, our aim is to emulate last year’s results.”

Victor R. Muller, CEO Spyker Cars:”With the Saab acquisition under our belt we return to the race arena in 2010, both at Le Mans as well as in the LMS. For Spyker racing is a pivotal element of our strategy, which we pursuit with vigour. We will endeavour to improve on the excellent results of Peter van Erp and his team and strive for a podium place at Le Mans after our fifth in class finish last year. Also in the LMS we did well last year. This year the competition is more intense than ever before and we have to fight to improve upon last year’s performance. This we will do. I wish the team and drivers a very good race season”.

Tom Coronel said: “We performed really well in the last two Le Mans Series races of last year and I am looking forward to an even more competitive season. I know my team mates very well; they have a lot of Le Mans experience and know how the team works. Spyker could not ask for a better team to meet the increased competition in GT2.”

Peter Dumbreck said: “It is great to be part of the Spyker family again. Spyker Squadron made big steps in 2009 finishing fifth at Le Mans and twice on the podium in the Le Mans Series. This season will most certainly be the most competitive season in the history of the Le Mans Series and it will be exciting to be part of the Spyker team aiming to upset the big manufacturers.”

Jeroen Bleekemolen said: “This is my third season with Spyker Squadron and I am looking forward to driving in GT2 again this year in what will surely be an incredibly exciting season. After finishing fifth at Le Mans with the team last year I think we’re all striving to match that great result. It will be especially tough as other manufacturers such as BMW and Corvette have joined and raised the bar in the GT2 class, which looks like it will be the most competitive at Le Mans.”

Key Dates in 2010 for Spyker Squadron
April 11, LMS R1 8 hours of Le Castellet, Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France
May 9, LMS R2 1000 km of Spa, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
June 12-13, Le Mans 24 Hours, Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France
July 17, LMS R3 1000 km of the Algarve, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal
August 21, LMS R4 1000 km of the Hungaroring, Hungaroring, Hungary
September 12, LMS R5 Autosport 1000 km of Silverstone, Silverstone, United Kingdom