LEC was a Formula One team and constructor from the United Kingdom. They participated in ten Grands Prix, using a March in 1973. In 1977 they built their own car, the LEC CRP1. LEC racing returned to Formula One in 1977 with their own LEC chassis designed by Mike Pilbeam and run by Mike Earle. It was this car in which he suffered serious injuries in an accident during pre-qualifying for that year's British Grand Prix. He survived an estimated 179.8 g when he decelerated from 173 km/h (108 mph) to 0 in a distance of 66 cm (26 inches) after his throttle got stuck wide open and he hit a wall. For many years, this was thought to be the highest g-force ever survived by a human being. He suffered multiple fractures to his legs, pelvis and ribs. Both LEC CRP1s built, including the car heavily damaged at Silverstone, have been restored and compete in historic Formula One racing. Chassis: CRP1-77-001 Chassis CRP1-77-001 Constructed in the after hours at the Lec Refrigeration company, this is the first of two CRP1s built. It was raced at select events during the 1977 season by David Purley, who finished sixth in the Race of Champions and briefly led the Belgian Grand Prix in this car. Its competitive career came to an abrupt end in the practice for the British Grand Prix but it did save David Purley's life. As a testament to its formidable strength, the remains w Chassis: CRP1-77-002 Chassis CRP1-77-002 Built following David Purley's monumental accident in the practice of the 1977 British Grand Prix at Silverstone with the first Lec, this car was intended to encourage a speedy recovery. Very badly injured, David Purley was ultimately not ready to drive the car until August of 1979, when it was entered in the Brands Hatch round of the Aurora AFX Championship. Purley retired from the race but a fortnight later finished 10th at Thruxton.
