With sale negotiations continuing, Spyker continue to target on-track improvement - starting with the Italian GP.
Technical boss hopes for improvement from updated car
With negotiations for the sale of the team continuing, Spyker continue to target on-track improvement - starting with Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
The team head to Monza this weekend armed with a new B-spec. F8-VII car, which was meant to make its debut in Turkey before promptly failing an FIA crash test.
However, with the test since passed, the team ran their new car at Monza last week during a three-day group test, which produced promising results.
Midfield runner?
The heavily revised car will now make its race debut at the Italian circuit this weekend, where technical director Mike Gascoyne hopes to see drivers Adrian Sutil and Sakon Yamamoto running in the middle of the pack.
"We could see an increase in our race and qualifying race pace and be up there in the mix of the midfield if everything works out," he said.
"We would like to think the update could see us competing with people around us and when you're in that position anything can happen.
"This is just the start and there are many areas of the car we will revisit - there is a lot more to come from this team."
Differences
Gascoyne said the B-spec. car differs from its predecessor both mechanically and aerodynamically.
He added: "Mechanically, we have revised the rear suspension geometry, specifically replacing the rotary dampers with linear ones.
"The gearbox is also a new design targeted at complying with the new 2008 gearbox rules where each 'box must be used for four races.
"Although we won't be running it for four races this year, it does ensure that we can get lots of data for next year when the rules come into play.
"The engine installation has also been reviewed to make cooling resources lighter, more compact and much more efficient.
"The other major update is the aero package. Apart from the chassis and nosebox, every other area has been revised.
"The front wing flap, endplate, barge boards, sidepod inlets, radiator outlets, rear wings, floor and diffuser are all new and the bodywork has been modified, so everything apart from the monocoque and nose is new."
