Mike Spence
 |
|
| Born | 30 December 1936 |
|---|---|
| Died | 7 May 1968 (aged 31) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 British |
| Active years | 1963 – 1968 |
| Teams |
Lotus, incl non-works BRM |
| Entries | 37 (36 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 1 |
| Career points | 27 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1963 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1968 South African Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
|---|---|
| Participating years | 1967 |
| Teams | Chaparral Cars |
| Best finish | dnf (1967) |
| Class wins | 0 |
Michael Henderson "Mike" Spence (30 December 1936 – 7 May 1968) was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 37 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 8 September 1963. He achieved one podium, and scored a total of 27 championship points. He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races, as well as sports car racing.
Mike Spence was born in Croydon, Surrey, and began his motor sport career through involvement with his family's garage business in Maidenhead, Berkshire. After early outings in 1958, driving his father's Turner and an AC Ace sports car, Spence moved into open wheel racing in Formula Junior in 1959. Immediate success at the wheel of his Emeryson earned Spence the opportunity to drive the car in the non-Championship 1961 Solitude Grand Prix less than two years later, although his gearbox failed after only six laps. However, later that year he finished an astonishing second in the Lewis-Evans Trophy race at Brands Hatch. These results prompted moves to the privateer Ian Walker Racing FJ team for 1962, driving a Lotus 22, and then to the works Lotus Formula Junior squad in 1963.
Despite disappointing results in his first Formula Junior season with a major team, with fourth place in the British Grand Prix FJ support race his best result, toward the end of 1963 Spence was called up to the Lotus Formula One team. Spence entered the 1963 Italian Grand Prix as replacement for Trevor Taylor, who was out through injury. Although he qualified his Lotus 25 in ninth spot, in the race the car's oil pressure faded, ending Spence's race on lap 73.
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