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**AX lover** · 11-04-2008, 12:44

This looks very good Laviolette GT2R! Go, Squadron!

**Kevin Slegg** · 11-04-2008, 22:36

Good idea

**Reddingius** · 15-09-2008, 19:48

Well the season's over, and apart from their engine-durability problem I think they've done quite well! Especially in the last race

But how about next year? I hope they'll be there again and I hope they'll be able to stick it to the competion. But I think I read somewhere that GT1 and GT2 will merge as of 2010. Does anyone know more about this? And what will that hold for Spyker? Will they be racing 'Vettes and DB9's? I for one can't wait!

**AX lover** · 15-09-2008, 21:28

About nex season:

Victor Muller CEO Spyker Cars:

“We are very pleased with today’s result although it is a pity we missed the podium just with the #85 car. This season should be seen as a general rehearsal for next year having recovered from 2007 in which we simply did not have the funds to develop our cars further. That has all changed now and we are anxious looking forward to the 2009 season after having executed an intense winter development program. We will not rest until we win”.

**Reddingius** · 16-09-2008, 09:56

The GT-classes will indeed change, perhaps merge. Porsche, BMW, Panoz, Ford, Dodge and Aston Martin have confirmed their participation in the new GT2-like class in 2010. Corvette will participate less in 2009 as it's a transitional season for them. I haven't been able to find much on this, but for the dutch among us: Autosport.nl - H�t autosport magazine op internet
So I wonder what Spyker will do. I don't know whether the rules and regulations will change for them but it would sure be nice to see them competing with all the brands mentioned above!

**Reddingius** · 16-09-2008, 10:12

Right thanks to this: autosport.com - ALMS News: GT1 class faces the axe I now know what is going on exactly. The Fia proposed new GT1 regulations for 2010, but none of the now participating brands (Aston Martin, Corvette) want to conform to these regulations in the future. Instead they announced to switch into GT2, hoping that GT1 will go instinct as there will no longer be cars competing in it. So all we will be left with, supposedly, is GT2.

I quite like the prospect of this.

**Laviolette GT2R** · 16-09-2008, 11:11

I do not like the prospect of this at all...

Initially, the GT2 class, just as the P2 class, was meant for privateers and small manufacturers, the GT1 and the P1 class were meant to be for the big(ger) manufacturers.

A couple of years ago, we saw Porsche entering the American Le Mans Series with their P2 contender. Porsche was not officially entering the Porsche RS Spyder under it's own banner but unofficially it, more or less, was: They hired Penske to run the cars for them and profided the funds and factory drivers. For the privateers left in this class, winning became almost impossible!

The A.C.O. would not let the Porsche RS Spyder in the LMS Series. Untill this year...
I know the situation is different from the situation in the American Le Mans Series: Porsche is not running the cars themselves in the LMS Series, the teams have to buy the car from Porsche, on top of that the LMS Series teams fielding a Porsche were handicapped because there was this gentleman agreement not to field all professional drivers in these cars. The idea was to field at least one amateur driver. The van Merksteijn team stuck to the agreement, fielding Verstappen and van Merksteijn. The Essex team did not, I know John Nielsen is getting old but he has won Le Mans and can, in my opinion, not be classified as a gentleman driver. Although Porsche are not fielding the cars themselves, factory drivers were offered to help the teams out for the 24 hours of Le Mans race...

The facts in the LMS Series P2 class season this year speak for themselves: all 5 races were won by a Porsche. In two races, all three Porsches completed the podium, in the other three races, two podium positions were taken by Porsches. So, from the total of 15 podium positions, Porsche took 12, more over: At Le Mans, the two Porsches entered were 1 and 2 in their class!

I am afraid that the real privateer teams will not be able to win a race anymore, or even to be on the podium. I can fully understand the fact, that these teams, will eventually leave the series...

I took this P2 class example because I fear that what happened in the P2 class, could also happen to the GT2 class.

For Spyker, it is allready very hard to compete against the privateer Ferrari and Porsche teams. I know Spyker really put an effort in and still has not been in a position to win races yet.
I fear it will be almost impossible for Spyker to compete succesfully against "full blown factory teams" from General Motors (Corvette), Aston Martin but also B.M.W. Ferrari and Porsche will also have to step up but these are big companies and can afford to do so.

So as a Spyker enthusiast I am definitely not thrilled with the anounced rule changes...

...but as a racefan I would love to see the little, but very brave Spyker Squadron take on the giants of General Motors, Aston Martin, B.M.W., Porsche, and last but not least Ferrari.

**AX lover** · 16-09-2008, 13:36

The 2009 plans of Corvette:
Planetlemans.com | Corvette Racing confirms its plans for 2009

**AX lover** · 18-11-2008, 23:25

A Year With Spyker, Benjamin Leuenberger Looks Back

Very nice to read!

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Spyker Race Season 2008

Spyker Race Season 2008

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