With the single exception of the Porsche 956/962, Spice Engineering was the premier constructor of competitive Group C and IMSA sportscars and during that time the team’s proprietor, Gordon Spice, won an incredible four consecutive world drivers titles. Quite simply, Spice Engineering has a results record matched by no other independent Group C manufacturer.
The SE86C ('Spice Engineering 1986 Group C') car was designed in conjunction with Pontiac and had to resemble a Pontiac Fiero car in silhouette as they were financially backing the project - it would be Spice Engineering's first fully-fledged Group C car. Spice SE86 chassis 001 is the first Spice Group C car built and is the most significant chassis the team ever made - not just the first, but the most successful and iconic. Entered as a works car for 1986 and '87, originally driven by Gordon Spice and Ray Bellm, it was competitive immediately - a win and a second place in its first two races of 1986. With another win at Jerez and multiple podiums, 001 would help Gordon Spice and Ray Bellm to victory in the C2 Drivers World Championship. It also completed it's first Le Mans, finishing 6th in class. It is in this 1986 WSC/Le Mans 'works' Cannon/Listerine livery that the car is running in today.
For 1987, 001 would make a triumphant return, the highlight being class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with drivers Gordon Spice/Fermín Vélez/Philippe de Henning, the car coming home an amazing 5th place overall. It raced in the opening races of the ’87 season in Cannons/Listerine colours winning at the Jarama, Jerez, Monza, Nurburgring and Norisring races. After the Norisring win, 001 was transferred to Chamberlain Engineering who ran the car for the rest of the ’87 season - the best result being a podium at Kyalami. The Spice/Bellm combination would take over chassis 003 to complete the ’87 season. Incredibly, Spice would go onto win the Drivers World Championship again in 1987 with SE86 001, giving the car another World Championship to its already stellar history.
Chassis 001 has contested a total of 5 Le Mans 24 Hour races between 1986 and 1990, always equipped with the trusty, powerful and easy to maintain Cosworth DFL (Long Stroke) engine. Without doubt, this car has has one of the best histories of any Group C car extant.
In recent years, 001 has been run in historic Group C with great success, and its current owner has maintained it with absolutely no expense spared. The car comes complete with a fresh Cosworth DFL engine and gearbox (only one shakedown at Paul Ricard since full rebuild), current FIA HTP papers, current fuel tanks and current crack test.
Results:
| 1986 | |||
| Race | Drivers | Entrant | C2 Result |
| 360 km Monza | Spice / Bellm | Spice Engineering | 2 |
| 1000 km Silverstone | Bellm / Spice | Spice Enginnering | 1 |
| 24 h Le Mans | Bellm / Martin / Spice | Spice Engineering | 6 |
| 1000 km Brands Hatch | Bellm / Spice | Spice Engineering | 3 |
| 360 km Jerez | Spice / Bellm | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| 1000 km Nürburgring | Bellm / Spice | Spice Engineering | 3 |
| 1000 km Spa | Spice / Bellm | Spice Engineering | 2 |
| 1000 km Fuji | Spice / Bellm | Spice Engineering | 2 |
| 1987 | |||
| Race | Drivers | Entrant | C2 Result |
| 360 km Jarama | Velez / Spice | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| 1000 km Jerez | Velez / Spice | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| 1000 km Monza | Velez / Spice | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| Supercup Nürburgring | Ray Bellm | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| 1000 km Silverstone | Spice / Velez | Spice Engineering | 2 |
| 24 h Le Mans | Spice / Velez / de Henning | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| Supercup Norisring | Fermin Velez | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| 200 mile Norisring | Velez / Spice | Spice Engineering | 1 |
| 1000 km Brands Hatch | Nicholson / Ricci / Iacobelli | Chamberlain Engineering | 6 |
| 1000 km Nürburgring | Ricci / Iacobelli / Tessier | Olindo Iacobelli | NC |
| 1000 km Spa | Ricci / Tessier / Cardinaud | Olindo Iacobelli | 5 |
| 1000 km Fuji | Ricci / Iacobelli | Chamberlain Engineering | DNF |
| 500 km Kyalami | Ricci / Iacobelli | Chamberlain Engineering | 3 |
| Group C2 Kyalami | Ricci / Messaoudi | Ricci | 5 |
| 1988 | |||
| Race | Drivers | Entrant | C2 Result |
| 24 h Le Mans | Grand / Terrien / Guenoun | Graff Racing | DNF |
| 1000 km Nürburgring | Lombardi / Sotty | Pierre Alain Lombardi | DNF |
| 1000 km Spa | Lombardi / Sotty / Lecerf | Lombardi Pierre-Alain | 5 |
| 500 km Kyalami | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | 4 |
| 1989 | |||
| Race | Drivers | Entrant | C2 Result |
| 480 km Dijon | Lombardi / Sotty | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | DNF |
| 24 h Le Mans | Lombardi / Sotty / Magnani | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | DNF |
| 480 km Brands Hatch | Lombardi / Sotty | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | 7 |
| 480 km Nürburgring | Lombardi / Sotty | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | DNF |
| 480 km Donington | Lombardi / Sotty | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | DNF |
| 480 km Spa | Lombardi / Sotty | Lombardi Racing | DNF |
| Supercup Nürburgring | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | DNA |
| 1990 | |||
| Race | Drivers | Entrant | Result |
| 24 h Le Mans | Lombardi / de Lesseps / Morin | Pierre-Alain Lombardi | DNF |
Ownership history:
1986-1987 - Spice factory car, owned and run by Spice Engineering
1987-1988 - Sold to Chamberlain Engineering
1988 - Graff Racing
1988-1990 - Pierre-Alain Lombardi
1990-2000 - AGS Racing
2000-2005 - Nigel James (fully restored)
2005-2010 - Ian Stinton
2010-present - Current owner who completed another restoration and comprehensive race-prep
Please click on 'pdf' link above to view spare parts list.
Car can be viewed at ROFGO Park - current pictures to follow shortly.
POA ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE