Ladies and Gentlemen,
Background
Today is a milestone in the brief but intense history of Spyker since its rebirth in 2000. A mere 20 months after the unveiling of the first Spyker C8 Spyder prototype (chassis number 001) at the Birmingham International Motor Show 2000 and its winning of the Design Award, a Spyker C8 Double12 R (chassis number 009) started in the 2002 edition of the most prestigious and celebrated endurance race of all: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was not only a first for Spyker but also the first time ever that a Dutch carmaker ran that “mother of all endurance races”. Invaluable lessons were learnt and Spyker successfully entered the 2003 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year to be held on 14/ 15 June. Chassis number 019 will run the race, a 2003 model of the C8 Double12 R.
The fact that Spyker on its first time out ran 14 hours and 23 minutes before it was forced to retire with an engine failure may have positively influenced the ACO to invite Spyker again this year. Still driving this year with severe penalties (15% smaller restrictors and 70 kgs of ballast) because to few Double12s having been produced to date, the primary objective of our 2003 entry is to finish the race. To achieve that goal Spyker has ensured the support of its race team and its drivers by its sponsors.
Sponsors
Spyker’s relaunch has not passed unnoticed, in the Netherlands nor abroad. Spyker’s philosophy is simple: Brand recognition has to be earned both on the road and on the track. By creating timeless beauties in the form of state-of-the-art technology packages with spectacular performance which are totally handmade to the specifications of discerning owners in very limited numbers, the road cars have gained a position in the super car market segment in a matter of two and a half years. It is our view, however, that Spyker’s racing ambitions have contributed very substantially to this. But racing ambitions do not come cheaply. Hence Spyker efforts to forge partnerships with sponsors, the brand values of which are in line with those of Spyker. In 2002 Spyker secured the sponsorship of among others Polynorm, McGregor, Philips Automotive Lighting, Dunlop, Koni, Hewlett Packard, HPG, TBG, Amstellease, Eibach and Autovisie. The most encouraging results at Le Mans 2002 formed an excellent basis for 2003 contracts and indeed Spyker has been very successful in concluding sponsorship agreements.
Spyker is very proud to announce today the cooperation with Orange for a three year period as title sponsor of its factory Le Mans team which will run Le Mans under the name: Team Orange Spyker.
For Spyker the joint cooperation with such a triple A brand as Orange in only its second year of racing is a dream come true. The brand values of both companies are entirely in line and enhance each other: innovation and unparalleled quality are key to both brands.
The mere fact that the 2002 LM cars were already orange for the most part can now be seen as a prelude of what was to come: Orange Spykers – as we will unveil them in a minute- will stand out of the crowd because of their remarkable colour scheme.
Orange, black and of course aluminium, Spyker’s trademark. Apart from title sponsorship and team and car branding, the cooperation will entail a wide variety of promotional, hospitality and marketing activities all aimed at promoting both brands in their respective markets.
In addition to Orange, Spyker has the honour of presenting its sponsors for Le Mans 2003 today to you: Polynorm, McGregor, Amstellease, HPG, Philips Automotive Lighting, Hewlett Packard, Skynet, MSA Gallet, Tresparc, Dunlop, Koni, and Eibach have again joined us.
Mayor new sponsors are Noordzee Fm, Chronoswiss, Shell, Diago, Marek, Formule 1, TomTom and EDS.
Drivers
Under the management of Peter van Erp Team Orange Spyker will have its first outing coming weekend at the Le Mans test days. In hands of three very experienced Le Mans drivers the team is set to perform well: Hans Hugenholtz, gentleman driver, 4 times Le Mans entrant and Spyker shareholder and Norman Simon, talented young German driver, both participated for Spyker at Le Mans 2002. This driversteam is now joined by Tom Coronel who needs no further introduction. We are very happy that Tom has teamed up with us and that we may benefit from his Le Mans experience.
Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of my partners Maarten de Bruijn, Hans Hugenholtz and John de Mol I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard to ensure that Team Orange Spyker’s launch today could take place: Miriam Diekman, Peter van Erp and his crew thank you very much indeed.
May I introduce David Holliday Orange Nederland’s CEO.