Spyker target wins in five years

Spyker team owner Michiel Mol wants the Dutch squad to start winning races in five years time

Mol, whose team unveiled on Monday their F8-VII car, believes the Dutch outfit can start scoring points this season following some ambitious moves like signing a Ferrari engine deal and former Toyota technical director Mike Gascoyne.

Spyker, a luxury sportscar maker, took over the Midland team last season and renamed it for 2007.

"This is an emotional moment for me, but especially for everyone at Spyker," said Mol. "This is a special thing, it is history in the making. It is amazing to see what we have achieved in the past few months to get this together.

"I think for a smaller team like we are this is the time, the moment, to start in F1. There are a lot of regulation changes which bring the gaps closer, bring the teams closer, for a smaller team it is a good moment to step inside the sport.

"And if we want to be successful, and we want to be world champions in the end, you have to have the best of everything. With Mike Gascoyne, with Ferrari, with the drivers, we have shown we are on the right track.

"If we score points this year, and if we can be a serious midfielder next year, be on the podium the year after and win races in five years then we are on the right track.

"I am very proud to have the Ferrari engine in the car. It is a four-year deal and it helps to bring the brand forward."

Spyker founder Victor Muller was also enjoying the emotional moment.

"It is a fantastic moment," said Muller. "If one thinks it was only in October 2000 we launched Spyker cars, one can imagine that being here today launching an F1 car is a different kettle of fish. It is amazing we have achieved it. Spyker has a clear heritage in racing.

"We are the smallest manufacturer in F1, we only made 94 cars, but we are growing like it is going out of fashion. This F1 entry will help our performance in that respect."