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Spiess Tuning

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Spiess Tuning is the common identity of Siegfried Spiess Motorenbau GmbH, a motor vehicle engine company based in Ditzingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Siegfried Spiess Motorenbau GmbH is a family-run company that develops, manufactures and services its own high-performance engines in second generation. Currently, three pillars form the Siegfried Spiess Motorenbau GmbH: Spiess RACing, Spiess Classic and Spiess CNC. Spiess RACing is responsible for the development, production and assembly of racing engines. This also includes the on-site support of the teams and drivers. Spiess Classic is mainly concerned with the design and restoration of young and classic car engines. Spiess CNC manufactures complex one-offs and also offers contract manufacturing, both for private individuals and for companies.

The company's founder Siegfried Spiess

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Siegfried Spiess had direct contact with engines and vehicles since his childhood, as his parents ran an NSU and Mercedes workshop in Stuttgart Weilimdorf. Eventually, he learned and worked as a car mechanic. Later, Siegfried Spiess passed his master craftsman's examination in the motor vehicle craft.

His wife Brigitte gave him two sons, Holger and Jürgen. Holger Spiess is currently one of the managing directors of Siegfried Spiess Motorenbau GmbH, together with Samuel Schleier.

Between 1963 and 1968, Siegfried Spiess won several championship titles on NSU vehicles. In 1963, he became German hillclimb champion on a NSU Prinz, in 1965 on an NSU 1000 TT. After the runner-up title in 1966, he won the Bergmeister title two years in a row in 1967 and 1968 on an NSU Wankelspider. This was followed by the runner-up title again in 1969. At the end of 1969, 'Siggi' Spiess said goodbye to active racing, but still occasionally took part in races until 1975.

Siegfried Spiess tuned NSU engines into excellent power units that were used worldwide with great success. On March 22, 1972, he left his parents' business and founded his trademark: Spiess Tuning. His workshop in Weilimdorf, which, however, quickly became too small, was followed by several locations to meet the increasing demand.

Company history

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On behalf of NSU, Siegfried Spiess not only tuned the engines but also built the entire vehicles. After the last NSU rolled off the production line in 1972 and Willi Bergmeister had won the last of the numerous championship titles with a Spiess-NSU engine in 1974, Siegfried Spiess reoriented himself and focused on the 1.6 litre GTI engine from the Golf/Scirocco series for the first time.

The 1.6-litre GTI engine laid the foundation for the Formula 3 successes. When Helmut Henzler won the German and European championship title in Formula Super V in 1978 with an engine built by Spiess, Spiess mechanics were on site for the first time to service and maintain the engine during all races. The first engine test bench went into operation in the same year.

In 1979, Siegfried Spiess independently developed the first Formula 3 engine on VW basis. In 1983, three teams competed in the German Formula 3 Championship with Spiess-built VW engines, initially without VW factory order. The VW engine, modified by Spiess, proved its worth in Formula 3 right from the start.

In 1983 and 1984, the team finished as runners-up and in 1985, Volker Weidler won the first German Formula 3 title with an engine modified by Spiess.

After the success in 1987 with Bernd Schneider, VW was enthusiastic about the success of the privately organised teams and secured the services of the most successful engine tuner: Spiess. Various title wins followed. One of the title winners was the later seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher. In 1990, with a VW engine modified by Spiess, he won the German Formula 3 Championship and the Macau Grand Prix, the most important and prestigious Formula 3 race in the world.

After more than 10 years of success with Volkswagen, the era with Opel followed. Between 1992 and 2002, with the exception of 1994, the Opel-Spiess engine dominated Formula 3 in Germany. In Japan, Great Britain, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, etc., Opel-Spiess engines were used in various racing series and won championships with them. It is worth mentioning that the VW successes also brought Opel onto the scene and that it was an absolute novelty and an extreme sign of confidence that a tuner was responsible for two competing products.

In 1997, a Super Touring Car (STW) engine was produced. In the German STW Championship, Opel won the brand title with Spiess. Spiess engines were also used in the British Touring Car Championship. In 1999, the South African championship followed.

In 2000, Siegfried Spiess GmbH developed and manufactured a 4-litre V8 engine for the Opel Astra V8 Coupé for the German Touring Car Championship. Despite individual victories, Opel only just missed out on the championship title. Since then, Opel and Spiess became an important pillar of the world-appreciated DTM.

In 2001, finished components were delivered to General Motors in the USA.

As the workshop at the former location in Ditzingen became too small, Spiess Tuning moved to a specially designed new building in 2001. In the new 2,400 sqm halls, the four new test benches (three static, one dynamic) formed important elements for the ongoing success in racing. The new location is still the headquarters of Siegfried Spiess GmbH at Dieselstraße 11 in Ditzingen.

Spiess also achieved great successes in the ATS Cup, the German Formula 3 Championship. Until 2008, all championship titles were won by Opel-Spiess for five consecutive years.

In Argentina, 4-cylinder Opel engines modified by Spiess were used in touring cars in 2003.

In addition, in both 2003 and 2004, Ryan Briscoe, Nicolas Lapierre and Nico Rosberg were able to perform confidently with the Opel-Spiess engine in the Formula 3 Euroseries, the world's highest Formula 3 championship at that time.

In 2004, Karl Reindler won first place in the Australian Formula 3 Championship with the Opel-Spiess engine. In the same year, Siegried Spiess GmbH extended its business activities to prototyping and testing of high-performance derivatives.

Spiess pushed the cooperation with VW and entered the Dakar Rally.  In cooperation with VW, the first diesel engine for long-distance rally events was developed and manufactured by Spiess.

In 2006, the team narrowly missed out on victory, which was followed by the Central Europe Rally in 2008. The first Dakar championship title for VW and Spiess followed in 2009 with Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz at the wheel. In both 2009 and 2010, Spiess and VW achieved the sensational triple win, after which VW decided to end its participation in the Dakar Rally.

Volkswagen returned to the Formula 3 stage in 2007 as an engine supplier. Initial testing in September was followed by continuous racing in 2008 and already the first victory. Spiess Power dominated the ATS Cup for six consecutive years.

In 2014, Tom Blomqvist and Max Verstappen finished second and third in the European Formula 3 Championship with Spiess-VW. Further championships in the European Formula 3 Racing Series followed in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

In 2016, he entered the Superformula Lights in Japan after Formula 3 changed the regulations. In 2017, Mitsunori Takaboshi won the championship there. At the Macau Grand Prix, Dan Ticktum finished first with a VW Spiess engine. In the European Formula 3 Championship, Lando Norris managed to win the championship title.

In 2019, Spiess Motorenbau entered the Euroformula Open. Right away, the championship title was won by Marino Sato. Also in Japan, Sacha Fenestraz won the overall Superformula Lights classification with Spiess Power in the same year.

Helmut Maier has been successfully competing in hillclimb races with a Spiess engine since 1979. As a result, other racers became aware of Spiess. So Spiess decides to officially participate in hillclimb races with Erwin Buck and Spiess SPG01 engine (1.6 l) in 2019.

In 2020, the championship title was won in the Euroformula Open with Ye Yifei and Spiess A41 engine. In Japan, Sena Sakaguchi finished second in the Superformula Lights. The Spiess 2.0 L engine for hill climbs was introduced to the market.

In 2021, Erwin Buck became KW-Bergcup winner and vice mountain champion with Spiess SP G02 (2.0 L) engine. With Spiess A41 engines, Cameron Das won the Euroformula Open and Teppei Natori the Superformula Lights.

Due to the many diversifications in the last 50 years, the company has created the three Spiess pillars: Spiess CNC, Spiess Classic and Spiess Racing. Here again the exact definition of the three pillars:

Spiess RACing is responsible for the development, production and assembly of racing engines. This also includes the on-site support of the engines at the race tracks.

Spiess Classic is mainly concerned with the construction and restoration of young and classic car engines.

Spiess CNC manufactures complex one-offs and also offers contract manufacturing, both for private individuals and for companies.

In 2022, Siegfried Spiess Motorenbau GmbH celebrates its 50th anniversary.

A selection of successes

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Hillclimb

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1963 Deutsche Bergmeister für Tourenwagen NSU Prinz Siegfried Spiess 1
1964 Deutsche Bergmeister für Tourenwagen NSU Siegfried Spiess 1
1965 Deutscher GT-Bergmeisterschaft NSU Siegfried Spiess 1
1966 Deutsche Automobil Bergmeisterschaft NSU/Wankel-Spider Siegfried Spiess 2
1967 Deutscher Automobil Bergmeisterschaft NSU/Wankel-Spieder Siegfried Spiess 1
1968 Deutscher Automobil Bergmeisterschaft NSU/Wankel-Spider Siegfried Spiess 1
1969 Deutscher Automobil Bergmeisterschaft NSU 1000 TT Siegfried Spiess 2
1974 Deutscher Berg Pokal NSU TTS Willi Bergmeister 1
2019 KW-Bergcup bis 1600ccm Spiess 1.6 L Erwin Buck 1
2019 KW-Bergcup Gesamt Ranking Spiess 1.6 L Erwin Buck 5
2019 Deutsche Automobil Bergmeisterschaft Spiess 1.6 L Erwin Buck 3
2019 Automobil für  Tourenwagen Berg-Cup Spiess 1.6 L Erwin Buck 3
2019 Württembergischer Berg Pokal Spiess 1.6 L Erwin Buck 1
2020 5 Nationen Trophäe bis 2000ccm Spiess 1.6 L Erwin Buck 1
2020 5 Nationen Trophäe Gesamt Ranking Spiess 1.6 L Erwin Buck 2
2021 KW-Bergcup Gesamt Ranking Spiess 2.0 L Erwin Buck 1
2021 KW-Bergcup Klasse bis 2000ccm Spiess 2.0 L Erwin Buck 1
2021 Deutsche Automobil Bergmeisterschaft Spiess 2.0 L Erwin Buck 2
2021 Automobil für  Tourenwagen Berg-Cup Spiess 2.0 L Erwin Buck 1

24h Spa Franchorchapms

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1968 24h Spa Franchorchamps NSU/Wankel Spider Siegfried Spiess und Team 1
1967 24h Spa Franchorchamps NSU/ Wankel Spider Siegfried Spiess und Team 1

Formel Super V Germany

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1978 Formel Super V Deutschland VW Helmut Henzler 1

Formel Super V Europe

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1978 Formel Super V Europa VW Helmut Henzler 1
1982 Formel Super V Europa VW Walter Lechner senior 1

German Formel 3 Championship

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1983 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Hans-Peter Pandur 2
1984 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Volker Weidler 2
1985 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Volker Weidler 1
1987 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Bernd Schneider 1
1988 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Joachim Winkelhock 1
1989 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Heinz-Harald Frentzen 2
1990 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Michael Schumacher 1
1991 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Tom Kristensen 1
1992 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Pedro Lamy 1
1993 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Jos Verstappen 1
1995 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Norberto Fontana 1
1996 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Jarno Trulli 1
1997 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Nick Heidfeld 1
1998 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Bas Leinders 1
1999 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Christijan Albers 1
2000 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Giorgio Pantano 1
2001 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Toshihiro Kaneishi 1
2002 Deutsche Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Gary Paffett 1

ATS Cup/Recaro Formula-3-Cup

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
2003 Recaro Formel-3-Cup Opel João Paulo de Oliveira 1
2004 Recaro Formel-3-Cup Opel Bastian Kolmsee 1
2005 Recaro Formel-3-Cup Opel Peter Elkmann 1
2006 Recaro Formel-3-Cup Opel Ho-Pin Tung 1
2007 ATS Cup Opel Carlo van Dam 1
2008 ATS Cup VW Frédéric Vervisch 1
2009 ATS Cup VW Laurens Vanthoor 1
2010 ATS Cup VW Tom Dillmann 1
2011 ATS Cup VW Richie Stanaway 1
2012 ATS Cup VW Jimmy Eriksson 1
2013 ATS Cup VW Marvin Kirchhöfer 1
2014 ATS Cup VW Markus Pommer 1

Grand Prix Macau

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1989 Macau Grand Prix VW David Brabham 1
1990 Macau Grand Prix VW Michael Schumacher 1
1994 Macau Grand Prix Opel Sascha Maassen 1
1995 Macau Grand Prix Opel Ralf Schumacher 1
1997 Macau Grand Prix Opel Soheil Ayari 1
2000 Macau Grand Prix Opel André Couto 1
2009 Macau Grand Prix VW Edoardo Mortara 1
2010 Macau Grand Prix VW Edoardo Mortara 1
2012 Macau Grand Prix VW António Félix de Costa 1
2016 Macau Grand Prix VW António Félix de Costa 1
2017 Macau Grand Prix VW Daniel Ticktum 1
2018 Macau Grand Prix VW Daniel Ticktum 1

Formula 3 Grand Prix Monaco

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1987 Formel 3 Grand Prix Monaco VW Didier Artzet 1
1990 Formel 3 Grand Prix Monaco VW Laurent Aiello 1
1991 Formel 3 Grand Prix Monaco VW Jörg Müller 1
1992 Formel 3 Grand Prix Monaco Opel Marco Werder 1
1994 Formel 3 Grand Prix Monaco Opel Giancarlo Fisichella 1
1996 Formel 3 Grand Prix Monaco Opel Marcel Tiemann 1
1997 Formel 3 Grand Prix Monaco Opel Nick Heidfeld 1

Formula 3 Euroseries

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
2003 Formel 3 Euroseries Opel Ryan Briscoe 1
2004 Formel 3 Euroseries Opel Nicolas Lapierre 3
2004 Formel 3 Euroseries Opel Nico Rosberg 4
2005 Formel 3 Euroseries Opel Frank Perera 4
2008 Formel 3 Euroseries VW Edoardo Mortara 2
2010 Formel 3 Euroseries VW Edoardo Mortara 1
2011 Formel 3 Euroseries VW Marco Wittmann 2

Dakar Rallye

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
2006 Dakar Rallye VW Giniel de Villiers / Tina Thörner 2
2007 Dakar Rallye VW Mark Miller / Ralph Pitchford 4
2009 Dakar Rallye VW Giniel de Villiers / Dirk von Zitzewitz 1-2
2010 Dakar Rallye VW Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz 1-3
2011 Dakar Rallye VW Nasser Al-Attiyah / Timo Gottschalk 1-3

Other Series

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
1992 Französischer Formel 3 Cup Opel Franck Lagorce 1
1992 Italienischer Formel 3 Cup Opel Max Angelelli 1
2000 Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft Opel Manuel Reuter 2
2004 Australische Formel 3 Meisterschaft Opel Karl Reindler 1
2008 Mitteleuropa Rallye VW Carlos Sainz / Michel Périn 1
2012 Österreichische Rennwagenmeisterschaft VW Christopher Höher 1
2017 ERC 3 Opel Ingram Chris Edmondson Elliot 1

European Formula 3 Championship

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
2014 Europäische Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Tom Blomqvist 2
2014 Europäische Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Max Verstappen 3
2015 Europäische Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Antonio Giovinazzi 2
2017 Europäische Formel 3 Meisterschaft VW Lando Norris 1
2018 Europäische Formel 3 meisterschaft VW Dan Ticktum 2

Euroformula Open

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
2019 Euroformula Open Spiess VW Marino Sato 1
2020 Euroformula Open Spiess VW Ye Yifei 1
2021 Eurofromula Open Spiess VW Cameron Das 1

Superformula Lights

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Year Series Engine Driver Position
2017 Superformula Lights Spiess VW Mitsunori Takaboshi 1
2019 Superformula Lights Spiess VW Sacha Fenestraz 1
2020 Superformula Lights Spiess VW Sena Sakaguchi 2
2021 Superformula Lights Spiess VW Teppei Natori 1
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http://www.berg-meisterschaft.de/?page_id=814

Historie - S. Spiess Motorenbau GmbH (spiess-racing.de)

Helmut Henzler | Racing career profile | Driver Database (driverdb.com)

Formel V – Wikipedia

Rallye Dakar – Wikipedia

Macau Grand Prix – Wikipedia

https://www.bing.com/search?q=superformula+lights&cvid=e4d5f3c9971c45afaeb95cfee8814a59&aqs=edge..69i57j0l3.2719j0j4&FORM=ANAB01&PC=U531

https://www.bing.com/search?q=superformula+lights&cvid=e4d5f3c9971c45afaeb95cfee8814a59&aqs=edge..69i57j0l3.2719j0j4&FORM=ANAB01&PC=U531

Europäische Formel-3-Meisterschaft – Wikipedia

Formel-3-Euroserie – Wikipedia

https://www.euroformulaopen.net/en/

https://superformula-lights.com/

https://formel3guide.com/