Last week Spyker Squadron, the factory racing team of Spyker Cars, organised its second three-day test. The test was held in good conditions at the track of Valencia near the Mediterranean coast in Spain. Swiss Spyker Cars dealer, Speedy Garage based in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, jointly tested with Spyker Squadron. Speedy Garage will enter a factory backed C8 Spyder GT2R under the banner Speedy Racing Team in the Le Mans Series.
The first day and a half Spyker Squadron worked with Dutchman Peter Kox on the setup of the car. Michelin tyres will not be available to GT2 teams in the Le Mans Series this season. Therefore the team adjusted the setup of the C8 Spyder to the Dunlop tyres, which the team will use in the
Le Mans Series. After its first three-day test at Jerez, Spain, mid-December the team gathered a lot of valuable data. Back in the Spyker Squadron workshop in Zeewolde, the Netherlands, the team further improved the front suspension of the C8. With the new front-wheel suspension geometry the drivers can better enter the corners. The team also worked on a new rear wing, which proofed to be successful in last weeks test and can be first seen at Sebring next month.
Part of the 2007 ACO regulations is a set of rules that specify the temperature in the cockpit of
the car. Teams can choose to lower the temperature, which in hot conditions can rise up to 40+ degrees centigrade, by either using an air-conditioning system or by means of ventilation. Last week Spyker tested their new ventilation system, which worked very well in the warm and sunny Spanish conditions. For the near future the team will develop an air-conditioning system that also grants the rights to use a larger air-restrictor diameter.
Speedy Racing Team tested the second day and half with the C8 Spyder GT2R. Nine drivers were present and each driver drove three times five
laps followed by an analysis of their test session.
Peter van Erp: "I am very pleased with the results of the Valencia tests. It is good to test three days in a row, it gives you all the time to test back-to-back and thoroughly measure the result of the changes made and therefore we will continue these tests".
The next test session for Spyker Squadron will be the official two-day Le Mans Series test held at Paul Ricard, France, next Month.
