Three-quarters front view of a Blue and White, 1990, Spice C1, on display at the 2022 Silverstone Classic
Already an accomplished and hugely successful driver, Gordon Spice together with his partner/racer Ray Bellm – established Spice Engineering in the early 1980s. Initially, the Silverstone based company focused on preparing and developing existing sports racers. Ahead of the 1986 season, however, Spice was tasked by Geneva Motors with the construction of a new Pontiac IMSA GTP racer. In addition to the cars headed Stateside, Spice also fielded Group C2 variants in the World Championship with great the 1988 season Spice introduced the SE88, a second generation prototype racer which could be used on both sides of the Atlantic, as a Group C, Group C2, GTP or GTP Lights depending on the engine fitted. In the World Sports Car Championship, the SE88C carried on where the earlier SE86C and SE87C had left off. The works cars, one of which was piloted by Gordon Spice himself and Ray Bellm, absolutely dominated the Group C2 class. The Cosworth-engined Spice won 10 of the 11 rounds, including a class win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Spice, Bellm and Pierre de Thoisy. At the end of the year, Spice and Bellm were World Champions, which was Spice’s fourth consecutive drivers’ title in the Group C2 class. A change in the Group C regulations, which included a low minimum weight for naturally aspirated engined cars, made the larger C1 class a viable option for Spice from 1989 onwards with the SE89. This would be replaced by the successful SE90 the following year. The SE90C (for World Championship Group C) and the SE90P (IMSA/GTP) were one of the most successful and most beautiful Spices which were bought by many privateers winning various championships around the world. Our car, Spice chassis SE90C-021, was shipped in late 1990 to the Japanese Fedco team for the 1991 season where it was entered in the Fuji 500km race taking place on March 10th but the car arrived too late to participate. It was then entered for the Fuji 1000km which took place two months
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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