1990 Spice SE90C

This SE90C, an example of the final and ultimate Spice Group C car built after the switch to 3.5-litre regulations, was fielded by the Dutch Euro Racing squad in the renamed Sportscar World Championship in 1991. The car, for sale with the Ascott Collection, was one of three chassis that it pitted with works support against the might of Jaguar, Peugeot and Mercedes.

The little-used car, chassis 22, raced just three times in period from the start of the season up to and including the Le Mans 24 Hours. Cor Euser and team owner Charles Zwolsman, who had previously raced under the pseudonym ‘Charles Hausmann’, came home fourth at the Suzuka series opener after losing out on a podium finish on the final lap, before Euser and Richard Piper took fifth place at Silverstone as the first non-factory car home.

Tim Harvey, who’d raced irregularly for the works team in 1989 and ’90, joined Euser and Zwolsman for Le Mans. The car was 15th in the times after qualifying, but by a quirk in the regulations it would start from the second row behind two Peugeot 905s. The rules demanded that cars conforming to the 3.5-litre regulations start at the head of the field. Chassis 22 succumbed to engine failure in the sixth hour and wasn’t used again that season.

The car, according to Ascott, is “well preserved” and has been raced only sparingly. It would need a recommissioning, including an engine and gearbox rebuild. Price on application.

Ascott Collection, Vaucresson, France, Tel: +33 6 17494250, ascottcollection.com