Description:

Spice SE90C C1 Group C - SE90-C-017

• One of the last C1-class cars built by Spice Engineering
• Aluminum honeycomb monocoque with Ford-Cosworth DFR 3.5-litre V8 engine
• Sold new to AO Racing (Japan) and - in striking pink - entered with all women team in 1991 Le Mans 24hr
• In 100% race-ready condition with everything current and good spares
• A well known and competitive entry to all Group C races around the world

We have the pleasure to offer this iconic 1990 C1-class Spice SE90C-017 – aka “The Pink Spice” – for sale.

Spice Engineering, based at the Silverstone Circuit in Towcester, was founded in 1985 by racing driver Gordon Spice and historic racer Ray Bellm. Together with their specially developed Cosworth powered Spice-Tiga running in the C2 class, they won the C2 World Drivers and Teams titles. Spice and Bellm added another driver’s title in ’86, this time with the new Spice constructed SE86C. 1987 saw Gordon Spice win his third straight Drivers title and Spice Engineering their second Teams title.

The Spice SE90C, benefitting from an aluminum honeycomb monocoque covered in a carbon fiber composite and kevlar body, was introduced for the 1990 season and would race in the normally aspirated 3.5 litre Group C1 Category. Our car, chassis 017, was one of the last Spices to be built and was sold new to Aoshima Tsunemasa of AO Racing in Japan and, painted white, it raced three times in the Japan Supercar Championship during 1990.

In 1991 the team ambitiously decided to enter an all women team at Le Mans centered around Japanese lady driver Tomiko Yoshikawa who would be partnered by Desire Wilson and Lynn St James. However, Tomiko was unable to achieve the necessary upgrade to her race licence, so she was replaced at the last moment by Cathy Muller. Unfortunately for the team, Lynn St James crashed the car beyond repair during the early practice sessions. For the race, the team leased another Spice, chassis 008, which was crashed during the race. The damaged chassis 017 was returned to Japan, rebuilt, and did two more races in Japan in 1991 after which it was placed into storage before being sold to Kent (UK) based racing dentist David Mercer in late 2001.

Rebuilt by Weylock Racing Preparations, David raced the car in the Group C revival series between 2002 and 2006 and won 12 races as well as achieving 18 other podium finishes with 14 second places and four thirds. During 2005 and 2006, David finished either in first or second place. Having purchased another Spice, David placed “017” in storage until selling it in 2009 to historic racer Richard Bateman. Richard rebuilt and repainted the car in its pink 1991 Le Mans livery and the car continued to race in the Group C revival series as well as in the Le Mans 24 Hours Legends race in 2010 and 2012. “017” also appeared at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed where Desire Wilson was reunited with the car. 
In early 2021, Marc Schurmann of Road and Race Cars in Zurich purchased “017” directly from Richard Bateman and raced it once at the Bosch Hockenheim Classic before selling it to the current Belgian owner. He entered the Spice in the 2021 Dubai Historic GP Revival where,  although intended to be nothing more than a shakedown test, the Spice went on to comfortably win both Group C races. The Pink Spice subsequently went on to race in Peter Auto's Group C race series including the 2023 Le Mans Classic Support race.

Since acquiring the car in 2021, SE90C-017 has been looked after by OC Racing Ltd (UK) with no expense spared. This iconic C1-class Spice is sold in 100% race-ready condition with just 5 hours on its Cosworth DFR 3.5-liter engine, current crack testing, fuel cell, FIA HTP and good spares including multiple wheel sets, nose section, car cover and miscellaneous running spares.

The “Pink Spice” is now ready for its next custodian and will continue to be a welcome and competitive entry to the Group C race series, the pinnacle of sports car racing.

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