Spyker Squadron
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Spyker Cars N.V. |
| Folded | 2011 |
| Base | Zeewolde, Flevoland |
| Team principal(s) | Peter van Erp Ronald van de Laar |
| Former series |
FIA GT Championship European Le Mans Series American Le Mans Series 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. Throughout its existence the team was run by Reiter Engineering. Daily operations were managed by Peter van Erp, the later Spyker Cars COO.
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. 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.
The C8 Double-12R was again raced in 2003. Engine trouble again hampered their 12 Hours of Sebring effort. The team retired just past the half way mark. Sponsored by telecom provider Orange S.A. the team presented drivers Tom Coronel, Hans Hugenholtz and Norman Simon. Gearbox trouble prevented a strong finish, the team finished the race but was not classified as it was to far behind. The team also entered the lone race of the 2003 Le Mans Series, the 1000km of Le Mans. Norman Simon, joined by Belgian Patrick van der Schoote, finished the race in 25th place overall.
In 2004 the team focused on developing a new variant on the C8, the C8 Spyder GT2-R. The car debuted at the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Audi powered car failed to finish the race due to an engine fire almost seven hours into the race. The team returned at the 1000km of Nürburgring, the fourth round of the 2005 Le Mans Series season. Drivers Jeroen Bleekemolen and Donny Crevels finished eighteenth overall, second in the GT2 class. The team finished in the same lap as the class winning Porsche 996 GT3. Near the end of the year the team made its debut in the FIA GT Championship. Racing at Zhuhai and Dubai the team scored two top five class finishes. At Dubai the team finished third in class.
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