The timetable is provisional and is subject to be modified at any time. The updating dates appear on the page. Nevertheless we do recommend checking at least during the week preceding the event.
Friday - 9th May
11:40 12:00 Catherham Eurocup Qualifying 1
12:15 12:45 CER Free Practice 13:00 14:00 Le Mans Series Free Practice1
14:15 14:35 Catherham Eurocup Qualifying 2
14:50 15:50 Radical European Masters Free Practice
16:05 16:35 CER Qualifying 1 16:50 17:50 Le Mans Series Free Practice 2
Sathurday - 10th May
09:00 09:30 Radical European Masters Qualifying 09:45 10:45 Le Mans Series Free Practice 3
11:00 11:30 CER Qualifying 2
11:50 12:30 Caterham Eurocup Race 1
12:50 13:35 Radical European Masters Race 1 13:50 14:10 Le Mans Series Qualifying - "LM" GT1 - "LM" GT2 14:20 14:40 Le Mans Series Qualifying - "LM" P1 - "LM" P2
14:55 15:55 Clubs
16:15 17:15 CER Race
17:35 18:05 Caterham Eurocup Race 2
18:20 18:35 First Track Experience
Sunday - 11th May 08:45 09:05 Le Mans Series Warm - Up
09:25 10:05 Caterham Eurocap Race 3
10:25 11:10 Radical European Masters Race 2
10:30 11:00 Autograph Session
11:10 11:35 First Track Experience Radical European Masters
11:40 12:10 Car Manufacturer track laps
11:15 12:05 Pit Walk 12:20 Le Mans Series Pit Open 12:35 Le Mans Series Pit Closed 12:50 18:50 Le Mans Series Race 143 laps
Alexander Iradj is added to the Speedy line-up for Spa.
He's a familiar face at Speedy because he drove the Spyker C8 Spyder GTR at the Le Mans Series Paul Ricard Testdays back in 2007.
Fat chance that he will also be the third driver for Speedy at the 24 hours of Le Mans...
Virgo and Farnbacher will lead the Ferrari charge in GT2, the British team clearly frustrated after the Monza race and with a very motivated pair of drivers ready for a change of luck after a frustrating race two weeks ago. Porsche will be trying to avoid that comeback by all means with Monza winners Farnbacher and unlucky IMSA and Felbermayr hungry for victory.
Spyker will try to confirm their good form and advance a bit further in their hunt for a podium, probably the same objective as JMB who have also improved compared to last year and are collecting good point already this season. The almost certain absence of the JWA Aston Martin Vantage for the second time in a row opens a very big question mark on the future of this car, at least for this season. With only 5 races in the calendar skipping two on some of the most renowned circuits is certainly not the best of advertisements.
A classic track, a great atmosphere and all the tension and crescendo leading to Le Mans should be a perfect framework for a great race. The Dutch fan attendance triggered by the presence of Verstappen, Lammers and the Spyker team and the perspective of an unusual sunny race day: all good ingredients for a fantastic weekend .
Thu 08 May 2008 SNORAS Spyker Squadron arrived at Spa-Francorchamps
It was only six weeks ago since SNORAS Spyker Squadron kicked-off their race season in Barcelona with a brand new GT racer, the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R. This weekend the team will start in their third 1000 km race of the season; the 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps. Spa is considered as the team's home track and many Spyker sponsors, partners and employees will head to the Belgium Ardennes to support the Dutch team.
With three European endurance races in just six weeks, in a season full of national bank holidays , the last weeks have been time wise challenging for the team. Time was not only spent on the preparations for the Le Mans Series events but also on the ongoing development of the new cars and the essential but time consuming preparations for the upcoming 76th run of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Peter van Erp, managing director Spyker Squadron: "It is a bit sad that a high-profile race such as the 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps will be seen by many teams as a mandatory event. With only two weeks till the official Le Mans test day, the goal for many will be to simply return the car unharmed to the finish line. We have started the season with encouraging results and I hope that we can continue that line this weekend".
Swiss driver Iradj Alexander has been selected by Alexandre Pesci to reinforce the Speedy Racing Team entry at Le Mans and therefore he will join the team in Belgium. Last year in Valencia Iradj already tested the old car but the race at Spa is a good opportunity for him to get acquainted with the team and the new car.
The 1000 km or six hour race will start this Sunday at 12:50 and will be broadcast live by Eurosport and MotorsTV.
As the final preparations ahead of the first free practice session of the weekend for the Le Mans Series where underway at Spa-Francorchamps, there was an interesting sound coming from the pit box where both Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R cars are this weekend. Instead of the usual deep rumble from the engines a complete different sound emerged from the back of one of the cars.
When the cars left the pit lane on their first lap around the Belgian circuit it became clear that the long awaited new engine had been installed by the Dutch squad in the number 85 SNORAS Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R and the Spa-Francorchamps round will be the first race for the engine before the team heads to Le Mans for the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Peter Dumbreck did the shakedown today. One of his points of focus was to find what the best time to change the gears is with the new engine. The new engine also means the Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2R has more power and more torque, which resulted in the car already being quicker than the number 94. The new engine has a completely new lay-out and a new crankshaft.
For now the team will keep testing as several components will have to be optimized for the new engine.
Because Spyker Squadron raced on Spa last year as well it might be interesting to compare laptimes that were accomplished last year.
I know it's very hard to compare laptimes on different occasions but I am also very anxious to see if the new Laviolette GT2R will be faster than last year's Spyder GT2R:
Free practice 2007:
Spyker Squadron #85 - 2:25.852
Speedy Racing Team #94 - 2:25.440
fastest Ferrari - 2:22.847
fastest Porsche - 2:22.518
Qualifying 2007:
Spyker Squadron #85 - 2:24.504
Speedy Racing Team #94 - 2:24.573
fastest Ferrari - 2:22.065
fastest Porsche - 2:21.525
Warm-up 2007:
Spyker Squadron #85 - 2:27.373
Speedy Racing Team #94 - 2:29.024
fastest Ferrari - 2:23.435
fastest Porsche - 2:25.224
Fastest race lap 2007:
Spyker Squadron #85 - 2:27.612
Speedy Racing Team #94 - 2:28.008
fastest Ferrari - 2:24.295
fastest Porsche - 2:24.803
Race result 2007:
Spyker Squadron #85 - D.N.F.
Speedy Racing Team #94 - 8th in class
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