1979 Ford Capri Group 1
Formed by Peter Clark and Dave Cook in 1976, CC Racing Developments soon emerged as the leading constructor of Group 1 Ford Capris. The 13th of 17 chassis built, CC13 was delivered to Gordon Spice Racing for the eponymous team owner to share with Alain Semoulin at the 1979 Spa 24 Hours. Courtesy of sponsorship from Belga cigarettes, the team also ran two other cars: one for brothers Jean-Michel and Phillipe Martin, the other for Chris Craft and Jeff Allam.
Having qualified 7th – within a second of Stuck’s pole-sitting BMW – CC13 was in 3rd place when, shortly after dawn, Semoulin – in Spice’s words – ‘got involved in someone else’s accident’. Although there was extensive near side panel damage and a ruptured fuel tank, the car was duly repaired and Spice resumed the race, setting fastest lap en route to a valiant 5th place overall. With the Martin brothers taking victory, and Craft/Allam 3rd, the coveted Coupe de Roi team’s cup was also secured.
Later that year, CC13 won the Quatre Heures de Millenaire at Nivelles, near Brussels, again driven by Spice and Semoulin. On this occasion, the Martin brothers finished 2nd, thereby ensuring a memorable Spice 1-2 and a Capri 1-2-3-4. Spice entered a four-car team at Spa in 1980 – with the Martin brothers repeating their 1979 win – and 1981, and it is likely, although unconfirmed, that CC13 featured in these squads and other rounds of the Belgian Saloon Car Championship.
RM Sotheby's will be offering this car, CC13, at their upcoming London auction on the 6th September. The estimated value is between £90,000 - £120,000. For more information on this and other vehicles at the sale, click on the link below. Photos: Dom Romney ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's