LELYSTAD, 27 December 2007 – Donkervoort has been invited by FIA to participate in the new GT4 Light championship. This new championship is also supposed to make it easier for smaller automobile manufacturers to participate in the famed FIA GT race series. The new D8GT appears to be exceptionally suited to engage the competition in battle.

This spring, in Geneva, the D8GT was shown to the public for the first time. The prototype that was introduced there has been further developed in the mean time and will travel its first test kilometres in February. The invitation from FIA to start racing in the new GT4 Light series is a pleasant surprise. “There is great pressure to build the first client cars due to the enormous interest for the D8GT. In the 2008 season therefore, we will only be able to participate in the new GT4 Light series with a very limited number of GT’s. However, it does mean that we will go for maximum results and we definitely want to do honour to our image as super-sportsman brand”, according to Joop Donkervoort.

No minimum number of street cars
For the time being the new GT4 Light series is integrated in the existing GT4 series. The starting weight for the race cars must be a minimum of 750 kilograms. The fact that a minimum number of cars does not have to be produced for participation in the GT4 Light series, is what makes it so interesting for small, specialised manufacturers like Donkervoort. The intentions are to participate with a company team and a few private teams in 2008. Joop Donkervoort: “A few of our good clients have shown serious interest in racing in the new class. Of course it is also fun for private drivers to participate in an exciting, competitive class. That the D8GT is a spectacular car with many opportunities makes it even more appealing. In addition, the costs are relatively low.”

The provisional calendar for 2008 is:

20 April: Silverstone, England
18 May: Monza, Italy
6 July: Oschersleben, Germany
3 August: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
14 September: Brno, Czech Republic
5 October: Nogaro, France