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D8GT; 4 GT's now in production


The first 4 production GT’s have been revealed today. The delay in the production has been the search of knowledge how to produce the carbon fibre roof and door construction. Knowledge has been in sourced from a UK based company who work primarily for the F1. Expertise build up by Donkervoort will also be exploited in a separate company which can work for 3rd party companies. The total added weight of the GT compared with the D8 is only 19kg. The GT has increased 30 cm in total length, which is now 3,71 meters. Wheel base is still 2,30 meters but the wheels are mounted 8 cm wider in the front and 4 cm in the rear end. Latest pics have been added to the D8GT album.

D8GT participating in FIA GT4 light category


Donkervoort has been invited by the FIA to compete in their new GT4 lightweight category with the D8GT. Participation is possible for both a factory team and private teams. Here the official factory Christmas card. Looks good. But where is the test GT? It was scheduled for December this year....

280 bhp for audi e-gas engines developed


Upgrade to 245 or 280 BHP now available for Audi E-gas engines.


Donkervoort.info and Beek Autoracing have developed an upgrade to either 245 or 280 Bhp for the Audi E-gas engine. The price quote with required upgrades can be downloaded here. Pictures can be found here. Torque is limited to max for the Ford T-9 gearbox.

To receive a quote based on your personal requirements and specific wishes, or to make an appointment, just click here.

We advise to mount the BGH T-9 gearbox in addition/ combination. NEW: Heavy Duty Synchro. Their new Heavy Duty Synchro Gearbox design, to address the problem of baulk rings breaking on third and forth gears, due to harsh racing conditions. Also Suitable for road use.

more steffens into sevens....

A remarkable discovery... Sil Steffens run's a business restoring Super Sevens.
Click here for the link to their website.

news archive

14-02-2007:

The Donkervoort.info forum has been loaded with spam lately. This means you now have to register. Your name and e-mail will be checked before adding you to the aproved list of users.

Overview Donkervoort news AutoTelegraaf: Click here.

21-12-2006:

Donkervoort will be launching a D8 GT Coupé early 2007.

14-04-2006:

Donkervoort will be present in Monaco with the 270RS. Click here for last years event.

11-04-2006:

Donkervoort production on Autolog.

07-04-2006: Geslaagde poetsdag in Donkervoort fabriek

Na het succesvolle eerste Concours d’Elegance dat Donkervoort vorig jaar organiseerde in haar fabriekshal, werd ook dit jaar weer een concours georganiseerd. En wederom vormde de imposante fabriek het decor voor de bijna 30 deelnemende auto’s die streden om de titel ‘Best of Show 2006’.
De jury en het aanwezige publiek verkozen als winnaar unaniem een nieuwe, rode Donkervoort D8 270 RS, die in een beperkte oplage van 25 stuks wordt gebouwd. Hoofdsponsor Sonax stelde de bokaal ter beschikking.

Traditiegetrouw kwamen afgelopen zaterdag veel klanten met hun Donkervoort naar de fabriek in Lelystad om op feestelijke wijze het nieuwe seizoen in te luiden. Ten opzichte van vorig jaar bezochten ruim twee keer zoveel gasten het Concours d’Elegance. “We zien dat het Concours d’Elegance een evenement is dat door onze klanten, potentiële klanten en relaties op handen wordt gedragen. Het bezoekersaantal is meer dan verdubbeld ten opzichte van vorig jaar en het aantal inschrijvingen voor het concours nam ook fors toe. Het gaat goed met ons en mensen willen graag delen in de feestvreugde”, aldus Joop Donkervoort.

De deelnemende auto’s stonden keurig opgesteld in de fabriekshal en werden door een vakkundige jury beoordeeld. De jury bestond uit een afvaardiging van de fabriek, een afvaardiging van de Donkervoort Touring Club en een afvaardiging van Sonax. Bij de beoordeling van de auto’s werd gelet op historie van de auto’s, de algehele presentatie maar ook lakkwaliteit en verzorging werden onder de loep genomen. Ook het aanwezige publiek kon haar stem uitbrengen en aangeven welke van de deelnemende auto’s in aanmerking kwam voor de titel ‘Best of Show 2006’.

Verder waren er diverse stands waar van alles te zien en te koop was zoals sieraden, mooie klassieke horloges, autoboeken en schaalmodellen. De befaamde Nederlandse autokunstschilder Hessel Bes vertoonde zijn kunsten, de nieuwste collectie Donkervoort kleding en schoenen werd getoond er was speciaal voor de gelegenheid een gezellig thematerras ingericht. Ook dit jaar weer toonde het deelnemersveld een grote diversiteit. Van vroege Donkervoorts S8 tot en met hagelnieuwe D8’s 270 RS namen deel, allen voorzien van een origineel en geldig

Certificaat van Echtheid

Dit certificaat wordt door de fabriek afgegeven voor auto’s die een goede beoordeling krijgen voor de technische staat, de optische staat en de originaliteit. Aan de hand van een uitgebreide fabrieksinspectie wordt gekeken of de auto voldoet aan de fabrieksmaatstaven. Veiligheid is daarbij natuurlijk van groot belang maar ook originaliteit is een factor waar veel waarde aan gehecht wordt. Scoort de auto voldoende hoog voor de beoordelingscriteria, dan wordt het Certificaat van Echtheid afgegeven. Joop Donkervoort verklaart: “Wij willen graag dat onze klanten echt van hun auto kunnen genieten. Daarbij is veiligheid een belangrijk aspect. Verkeerde schadereparaties of aanpassingen aan de auto die niet origineel zijn komen de veiligheid niet ten goede. Wij staan als fabrikant niet meer achter dergelijke auto’s. Het Certificaat van Echtheid dient er voor de goede auto’s van de minder goede auto’s te scheiden”.
D8 270 RS speelt hoofdrol in Monaco
In totaal werden 688 punten verdeeld, waarbij het aanwezige publiek de belangrijkste stem had. De uiteindelijke winnaar van de titel ‘Best of Show 2006’ werd een rode D8 270 RS Sport. De trotse eigenaar ontving uit handen van Joop Donkervoort de fraaie wisselbokaal, een officieel certificaat en een poetspakket van Sonax. “Dat een van de gelimiteerde RS’en uiteindelijk het concours wint is een bevestiging dat het een speciale auto is. Niet alleen wij als fabrikant weten dat, maar ook de 25 Europese kopers en de honderden bezoekers die zaterdag te gast waren”, aldus Joop Donkervoort.

De rode D8 270 RS Sport die zich vanaf zaterdag ‘Best of Show 2006’ mag noemen steelt eind van deze maand de show in Monaco. Daar is Donkervoort een van de sterren van Top Marques Monaco, een show van hoogste exclusieve auto’s die wordt gehouden in het prestigieuze Grimaldi Forum.

17-03-2006:

Donkervoort will have competition from KTM/ Audi who will produce a Seven like car for 35.000 Euro's.

23-02-2006:

Donkervoort.info has received some information that Donkervoort is currently discussing outsourcing the production of fiber components to China.

16-02-2006:

Interview Joop Donkervoort in Autovisie (Dutch).

19-01-2006:

Scoop: Donkervolkswagen? Copyright: AutoVisie No.2 19-01-2006 (in Dutch). More pics here.

Click to enlarge

22-11-2005:

Pistonheads have tested the D8. The question is... is it ready to kill the UK competition? Read all about it here.Tx. Jan for the info!

21-11-2005:

The new Donkervoort Factory site is online now with webshop, historic info etc.

14-11-2005:

The 270 RS breakes the record on the German Nürburgring again. Zuffenhausen; back to the drawing board! Click here for the official Dutch press release and here for the pictures.

11-10-2005:

The new model Donkies from Replicars 1:43 are now finally ready to be shipped at € 47,50 excl. package and posting. Click here to order.

08-10-2005:
I have become 40 years old now. Let's say live begins at 40.....

31-05-2005:
Autovisie No.11: Puur is puur; a buying guide for Donkervoort (page 70). And a Schotland trip report with Mariska & Teun van Rossum (page 50)

11-02-2005:
New 1/43 scale Donkervoorts D8 are available from Replicars.

09-02-2005:
Today Donkervoort officially launched the D270 RS version wich will be build as limited edition version. Click here for the pictures.

17-01-2005:
A management buy-in (MBI) team led by ex-Lotus General Manager, Ansar Ali, and backed by Corven Ventures, the private equity arm of the consulting and corporate finance firm Corven Group, has bought Caterham Cars for an undisclosed sum.

Caterham is the pre-eminent sports car manufacturer in its sector producing lightweight, affordable road and racecars with supercar performance. The company's heritage stems from the legendary Lotus Seven sports car acquired from Lotus Cars in 1973. Over the last 30 years Caterham, headed by its founder Graham Nearn and subsequently by his son, Simon, have successfully developed the Caterham Seven. Today, the company sells more than 500 cars a year in over 15 countries, generating a turnover in excess of £15 million.

In October 2004 Caterham launched its exciting new Caterham Seven CSR model, which draws its power from two bespoke high performance engine variants from Cosworth Racing. The CSR not only establishes a new benchmark in handling and performance, but also renews an alliance with racing legend Cosworth, who return to the road car market after a ten-year absence.

The MBI team will bring sector experience to compliment the existing Caterham management. Ansar Ali as Managing Director is joined by Gideon Wigger, another ex Lotus manager, as Operations Director, and by David Obertelli as Finance Director. James Basden (founding Director of Corven) and Mark Edwards (Director of Corven Ventures), both of whom have extensive automotive experience, will join the board as Non-Executive Chairman and Non-Executive Director respectively. Outgoing Caterham Cars Managing Director, Simon Nearn, will continue to assist the new management team on a consultancy basis. The combined management will seek to underpin the fundamentals of the business and drive the Caterham brand forward to meet customer demands whilst enhancing profitability.

Ansar Ali commented, “This is a unique opportunity and one that places on me a responsibility to ensure that we remain true custodians of the Caterham legend and brand. I am looking forward to the challenge of harnessing the inherent capabilities of the business – its employees, suppliers and partners - in order to continue to deliver sector leading products, outstanding customer value and financial returns to our shareholders and partners.”

Simon Nearn commented, “For a number of years we have been seeking inward investment to support the ever spiralling cost of new product development. I am delighted to announce the conclusion of this process, which sees the arrival of a highly experienced new management team, backed by a level of financial commitment that will ultimately enable the Caterham Brand to realise its full potential.

“Caterham Cars has until now been a strictly family business and although it has grown significantly in recent years, a shared sense of purpose and an infectious enthusiasm for the product has driven us as a team. Ansar and his colleagues not only recognise this dedication, but also share our enthusiasm for the Seven. They are ideally placed to begin the next chapter in the Caterham story.”

Chairman and founder Graham Nearn added, “It is clearly an emotional time for many of those who have contributed to the success of the business over the last four decades, and it is both reassuring and fitting that the new owners of the business should come from Lotus, where of course the Seven story began. That this should happen at a time when our historic links with Cosworth are being renewed seems particularly appropriate”.

12-01-2005:
It is possible to mount a wind deflector on a Donkervoort from an MG-F type. Look under tech tips for more information. For those of you who want to be "un cool"!

10-01-2005:
Donkervoort is switching Toyo tyres to T1-R. Click here for the official Dutch press release.

The new Toyo T1-R

08-01-2005:
Today this site is moved to a proper hosting company because of expected growth.

06-01-2005:
AutoAlbers can be seen on the Dutch TV program "Gek op Wielen" on the 17th of January, RTL 5. Tune in!

22-12-2004:
The Tin Wizzard kit is ready. An exact copy of our full size Donkervoort. Pfff.......

Modified Tin Wizzard kit Modified Tin Wizzard kit

21-12-2004:
A guided tour through the Donkervoort factory and some serious driving? Click here and watch the Klokhuis!

12-06-2004:
More than € 23.000,- funds raised for KWF Kankerbestrijding after 6 months of preparation!

08-02-2004:
Donkervoort will not launch the J25 at the Geneva Autoshow. This due to the fact that the car is not entirely ready and that there are some minor problems with European homologation. The minimum power output for the J25 will be 260 BHP from the Audi 1,8 Turbo engine!

06-02-2004:
The event for our Donkervoort KWF-Tour is getting in shape now: http://dtc-kwf.news-letter.nl Thanks girls and guys for all your help so far. Still a lot of organizing to do before June the 12th.

02-02-2004:
I have started to build an exact scale copy of our D8 Sport by heavily modifying a standard Tin Wizzard kit. The standard kit has many faulty details which i will correct. The paint can on which the model is standing contains the original Jaguar Racing Green paint which is used for our 1/1 scale D8. Now I need to find better wheels and rims than supplied in the kit..... The exhaust is now positioned differently and the Audi bulb needs to be moved to the correct spot on the bonnet.

Modified Tin Wizzard kit

02-02-2004:
In the Autovisie issue No.3 (30-01-2004) there is an article written about the Donkervoort D8 210 Wide Track which Jacky and myself drove before it went to Autovisie.
(0-100 km/h in just under 4 sec.). 500 km on the clock, directly picked up at the factory before driven by Autovisie as their test car.

Autovisie duurtester

Autovisie duurtester

30-01-2004:
Ronald Dubbelman leaves Donkervoort. After working 4 years as Sales Manager for Donkervoort, Ronald Dubbelman has left the company. He will join Daewoo Motor Benelux in the function of Sales Manager. He can be contacted via r.dubbelman@wanadoo.nl Read his mail here where he announces that he leaves Donkervoort.

13-09-2003:
This picture is taken by Jacky's father on the 25th anniversary tour of Donkervoort. It is taken in front of the Soestdijk palace, the residence of former Dutch queen Juliana.

Paleis Soestdijk

2002:
Some history; third place in the Dutch Championships RC-Helicopter competitions

Third place in the Dutch Championships

Third place in the Dutch ChampionshipsThird place in the Dutch Championships

Third place in the Dutch Championships

Third place in the Dutch ChampionshipsThird place in the Dutch Championships

Third place in the Dutch Championships