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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

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

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

Hillclimb

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

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

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

Formel Super V Europe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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