Spyker's chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne believes the team's new B-spec F8-VII challenger could make an immediate impact at Monza.
The back-of-the-grid Dutch-owned squad, which seems set to receive a major cash boost from a takeover involving the team's F1 director Michiel Mol and Indian investor Vijay Mallya, is expecting a huge step forward in competitiveness this weekend.
"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," said Gascoyne.
"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."
The B-spec chassis was originally scheduled to race in Turkey but failed its first round of FIA impact tests.
The car features a significant number of changes both to the chassis and the aerodynamics.
"Mechanically, we have revised the rear suspension geometry, specifically replacing the rotary dampers with linear ones," explained Gascoyne.
"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 other major update is the aero package. Apart from the chassis and nosebox, every other area has been revised," he added.
"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.'
Gascoyne believes that the B-spec Spyker will set out a platform of upgrades for 2008 and added that this is just the start of the team's development plan.
'We are in the process of final commissioning of the wind tunnel and very soon it will switch onto 24 hour running," he said.
"Combined with the Aerolab programme, this means the aero development will be much improved. The B-spec is just really the first step of the development process.
"For each subsequent race until the end of season we have updates in the pipeline leading onto a very intensive development programme over the winter and onto next year's car."
