Spyker Returns to Le Mans Classic After Joining W Group

Spyker Returns to Le Mans Classic After Joining W Group

Just weeks after announcing new ownership and a strategic investment, Spyker is heading back to Le Mans. The Dutch brand returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe with its historic C8 Double12R, marking the first major milestone in its revival under new co-owner Volodymyr Nosov and W Group.

This return follows Volodymyr Nosov, founder and President of W Group and WhiteBIT, acquiring a major stake in Spyker Cars and becoming co-owner of the renowned hypercar brand. This move started a long-term plan to revive Spyker, support its technological development, and help it grow worldwide.

Less than a month after sharing news of its new chapter, Spyker will join Le Mans Classic 2026 with its first Le Mans endurance car, the 2003 Spyker C8 Double12R, chassis 009. As it restarts production and works on new models, the company is also reconnecting with its racing history that built Spyker’s global reputation.

“Spyker is back at Le Mans, and this means more than just joining a historic race. It shows the brand is returning to the world stage. When we invested in Spyker, we believed in its engineering and its strong heritage. Le Mans has always been part of Spyker’s story, and bringing the brand back to this famous circuit is a key moment in its comeback,” said Volodymyr Nosov, co-owner of Spyker and President of W Group. “But this is just the start. We want to rebuild the brand’s global presence, help develop new vehicles, and make sure Spyker is once again seen as one of the world’s leading sports car manufacturers.”

In 2026, Spyker was officially accepted into the Le Mans Classic competitive programme in Plateau 9, a category dedicated to cars from the 2000–2010 era, one of the key periods in modern endurance racing. The brand will race in the GT2 class from July 3 to 5, 2026.

A Historic Car on a Historic Track

At Le Mans Classic, Spyker will race with the original factory-built C8 Double12R, chassis 009. This car is one of the first from the brand’s early 2000s endurance racing program.

This car competed in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2003 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2002 and 2003. Over twenty years later, chassis 009 is back at the Circuit de la Sarthe, with Hans Hugenholtz Jr. driving the same car he raced at Le Mans in 2002 and 2003.

“The return of Spyker C8 Double12R chassis number 009 to Le Mans after 23 years is a very special moment for Spyker. This car started our journey in endurance racing and brought Spyker back to international motorsport. More than twenty years later, having this car race again at the Circuit de la Sarthe honors the people, ambition, and pioneering spirit that have always defined our company. Seeing Hans Hugenholtz Jr. back with 009 at Le Mans makes this moment even more special,” said Victor Muller, founder and CEO of Spyker Cars.

The Spyker C8 Double12R was built for international endurance racing. It has a 4.0-litre V8 engine with about 480bhp and a sequential racing gearbox. This car is still one of the most important in Spyker’s recent history.

For Spyker, participation in Le Mans Classic is not only a tribute to its racing heritage, but also a symbol of the brand’s future ambitions. This appearance will become the first major public step in a broader strategy to restore the marque’s position in the global automotive industry while preserving the craftsmanship, exclusivity, and engineering character that have defined Spyker for more than 140 years.

Spyker’s return to Le Mans Classic also comes as WhiteBIT, the largest European cryptocurrency exchange by traffic and a key part of W Group, has become an official partner of Le Mans Classic 2026. This partnership strengthens W Group’s role in international motorsport and shows its long-term support for innovation, engineering, and iconic car brands.

About Spyker

Founded in 1880 in the Netherlands, Spyker is one of the world’s oldest ultra-luxury automotive brands, hand-building exclusive hypercars to individual commission. The brand’s rich heritage includes creating the world’s first four-wheel-drive car in 1903, building planes from 1914 to 1918, and participating in Formula One and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, the company produces vehicles exclusively in extremely limited numbers featuring aviation-inspired design elements.

About W Group

W Group is a global fintech ecosystem that makes blockchain and crypto easy, secure, and accessible for everyone. It is built on the values of security, professionalism, and innovation, serving 35 million users across 150 countries worldwide. At the center of W Group is WhiteBIT, the largest European crypto exchange by traffic, offering over 900 trading pairs, 340+ assets, and supporting 8 fiat currencies. WhiteBIT collaborates with Visa, FACEIT, FC Barcelona, and Juventus FC.