Spyker's New GT Racecar for 2012

ZEEWOLDE, Netherlands — Spyker Squadron, the factory racing division of Dutch-based Spyker Cars, is developing a new GT racecar based on the Spyker C8 Aileron. The C8 Aileron is just going into production in the U.K. after a year-long delay, following Spyker's acquisition of Saab.

Spyker announced last week that it is selling its non-Saab assets for $44 million to CPP Holdings, a British company controlled by billionaire Russian banker Vladimir Antonov. Spyker said it would use the money to pay down debt and focus on rebuilding the Saab business, which it acquired a year ago from General Motors.

CPP Holdings meanwhile said it has begun ramping up production of the C8 Aileron, which was unveiled two years ago at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show and originally was slated to begin production in late 2009.

The C8 Aileron-based racecar is being designed to new GTE regulations and will supersede the C8 Laviolette GT2R racer. Spyker said the design of the new GTE racer allows for "easy transitional development to FIA GT3 specifications in subsequent years."

While Spyker continues discussions with potential privateer teams to field the new racecar in 2012, the company said it is taking a one-year sabbatical from motorsports.

Peter Van Erp, managing director of Spyker Squadron, said: "We will develop the car for the new GTE class, although after its first season we will assess whether there is sufficient demand to develop a variant to FIA GT3 specifications. This would be relatively straightforward and would increase the potential customer base for the car and associated race support package. We are already attracting customer race teams wishing to buy an off-the-shelf car, with enquiries arriving from Europe and the Far East."

Inside Line says: Spyker says its new Aileron-based GTE racecar will be ready for the start of the 2012 season. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent