# Ensign Racing

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Auto racing team

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Ensign Full name Ensign Racing Team Base Burntwood, United Kingdom Founder(s) Mo Nunn Noted drivers Clay Regazzoni Chris Amon Marc Surer Jacky Ickx Nelson Piquet Jan Lammers Rikky von Opel Gijs van Lennep Roelof Wunderink Tiff Needell Formula One World Championship career First entry 1973 French Grand Prix Races entered 134 (98 starts) Constructors' Championships 0 Drivers' Championships 0 Race victories 0 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 1 Final entry 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix

**Ensign** was a [Formula One](/source/Formula_One) constructor from Britain. They participated in 133 grands prix, entering a total of 155 cars. Ensign scored 19 championship points and no podium finishes. The best result was a 4th place at the [1981 Brazilian Grand Prix](/source/1981_Brazilian_Grand_Prix) by [Marc Surer](/source/Marc_Surer), who also took fastest lap of the race.

Ensign was founded by [Morris Nunn](/source/Mo_Nunn) who also carried out design duties during the first two seasons of the team's existence. Nunn would later go on to be a prominent chief engineer in the American-based [Champ Car](/source/Champ_Car) series, winning championships with drivers [Alex Zanardi](/source/Alex_Zanardi) and [Juan Pablo Montoya](/source/Juan_Pablo_Montoya) in the late 1990s.

## Formula One

The N173, Ensign's first Formula One car, being driven at [Silverstone](/source/Silverstone_Circuit) in 2012.

An [Ensign N177](/source/Ensign_N177) being raced in a Historic Grand Prix at the [Lime Rock Park](/source/Lime_Rock_Park) circuit in 2009.

Ensign entered [Formula One](/source/Formula_One) in [1973](/source/1973_Formula_One_season), with backing from [pay driver](/source/Pay_driver), [Rikky von Opel](/source/Rikky_von_Opel). Von Opel had driven for the team in [Formula Three](/source/Formula_Three) in 1972 and won the [Lombard North Central, British Formula Three](/source/British_Formula_3_International_Series) Championship that year.[1] Based upon that success, von Opel commissioned a Formula One chassis.[1] Their first season was not successful, von Opel only finished two races[2] and the team's best result that season was 13th at the [1973 British Grand Prix](/source/1973_British_Grand_Prix).[2] However, the partnership continued into [1974](/source/1974_Formula_One_season), but von Opel left after the first race of the season, having been offered a works [Brabham](/source/Brabham) drive.[1] He was replaced at Ensign by [Vern Schuppan](/source/Vern_Schuppan) whose only finish was 15th at the [Belgian Grand Prix](/source/1974_Belgian_Grand_Prix)[3] and was later himself replaced by [Mike Wilds](/source/Mike_Wilds). Wilds only qualified in America; he finished the race after a pit stop for fuel but was not classified, nine laps behind.[4]

For 1975 Ensign was sponsored by HB Bewaking (a Dutch company) leading them to sign Dutch drivers. [Roelof Wunderink](/source/Roelof_Wunderink) and [Gijs van Lennep](/source/Gijs_van_Lennep). Wunderink did not have much success, qualifying for three races and finishing one. [Gijs van Lennep](/source/Gijs_van_Lennep) qualified for all his races and took sixth place in Germany, securing the first points for Ensign in Formula One. [Chris Amon](/source/Chris_Amon) also raced for the team in [Austria](/source/1975_Austrian_Grand_Prix) and [Italy](/source/1975_Italian_Grand_Prix) finishing 12th both times. In 1976 Amon stayed with Ensign having great qualifying results. He qualified third in Sweden and sixth in Britain but only took points in Spain where he finished in fifth place. [Patrick Nève](/source/Patrick_N%C3%A8ve) replaced Amon in France and [Hans Binder](/source/Hans_Binder) replaced Amon in Austria. [Jacky Ickx](/source/Jacky_Ickx) would race the rest of the season for Ensign.

In 1977 [Clay Regazzoni](/source/Clay_Regazzoni) raced for Ensign, scoring five points with best finishes of fifth in Italy and America. In 1978 the team entered cars for [Danny Ongais](/source/Danny_Ongais) and [Lamberto Leoni](/source/Lamberto_Leoni), but Ongais left after two races and Leoni after four races. Jacky Ickx contested the next four races and [Derek Daly](/source/Derek_Daly) raced the rest of the season scoring a point in Canada. Also in 1978 [Nelson Piquet](/source/Nelson_Piquet) made his debut in Formula 1 at the [German Grand Prix](/source/1978_German_Grand_Prix) at the [Hockenheimring](/source/Hockenheimring) driving an Ensign. In 1979 Daly stayed with Ensign but he left after the Monaco Grand Prix and was replaced by [Patrick Gaillard](/source/Patrick_Gaillard). Gaillard only qualified at two out of five races and was replaced by [Marc Surer](/source/Marc_Surer) for the final three races of the season.

The N180 at the [Pavilion Kuala Lumpur](/source/Pavilion_Kuala_Lumpur)

In 1980 Clay Regazzoni again joined Ensign but at Long Beach Regazzoni's brake pedal broke causing him to go straight on at the Queen's Hairpin crashing into the parked car of Ricardo Zunino leaving him paralyzed. [Tiff Needell](/source/Tiff_Needell) raced in Belgium, but failed to qualify for the Monaco Grand Prix. [Jan Lammers](/source/Jan_Lammers) raced the rest of the season.

Marc Surer raced for Ensign in 1981 and finished in fourth place in Brazil where he also took fastest lap of the race. Surer also finished sixth in Monaco. [Eliseo Salazar](/source/Eliseo_Salazar) replaced Surer from Spain onwards. Salazar finished sixth in the Netherlands. In 1982 [Roberto Guerrero](/source/Roberto_Guerrero) raced for Ensign. He only finished in two races.

Meanwhile, the team was also involved in the last year of [British F1 Championship](/source/British_Formula_One_Championship), winning the championship with the old MN180B cars and [Jim Crawford](/source/Jim_Crawford_(racing_driver)) as driver.

After the [1982](/source/1982_Formula_One_World_Championship) season, Ensign was merged into the [Theodore](/source/Theodore_Racing) team, which it had previous ties to via financier [Teddy Yip](/source/Teddy_Yip_(businessman)) and took that team's name. During many seasons, the connection between Ensign and Theodore was so great that in some years they used almost the same car, much as [Red Bull Racing](/source/Red_Bull_Racing) has a second but separate team, [Toro Rosso](/source/Toro_Rosso), in more recent times.

Ensign driver [Roberto Guerrero](/source/Roberto_Guerrero) continued on with the newly merged team for [1983](/source/1983_Formula_One_World_Championship), as did the team's main car designer.[5] The Theodore F1 team did not last the 1983 season, though, and shut down late in the year.[5]

## Complete Formula One World Championship results

([key](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:F1_driver_results_legend_5))

Year Chassis Engines Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC 1973 N173 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR NED GER AUT ITA CAN USA 0 NC Rikky von Opel 15 13 DNS Ret Ret NC Ret 1974 N174 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 F ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA 0 NC Rikky von Opel DNS Vern Schuppan 15 Ret DSQ DSQ DNQ DNQ Ret Mike Wilds DNQ DNQ DNQ NC 1975 N174 N175 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA ESP MON BEL SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA USA 1 12th Roelof Wunderink Ret DNQ DNQ NC DNQ Ret Gijs van Lennep 10 15 6 Chris Amon 12 12 1976 N174 N176 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN 2 12th Chris Amon 14 8 5 Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Patrick Nève 18 Hans Binder Ret Jacky Ickx Ret 10 13 Ret 1977 N177 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN 10* 10th* Clay Regazzoni 6 Ret 9 Ret Ret DNQ Ret 7 7 DNQ Ret Ret Ret 5 5 Ret Ret Jacky Ickx 10 1978 N177 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN 1 13th Danny Ongais Ret Ret Jacky Ickx Ret 12 Ret DNQ Derek Daly DNQ Ret DSQ Ret 10 8 6 Nelson Piquet Ret Lamberto Leoni Ret DNS DNQ DNQ Bernard de Dryver DNP Brett Lunger 13 1979 N177 N179 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA 0 NC Derek Daly 11 13 DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ Patrick Gaillard DNQ 13 DNQ Ret DNQ Marc Surer DNQ DNQ Ret 1980 N180 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW BEL MON FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA 0 NC Clay Regazzoni NC Ret 9 Ret Tiff Needell Ret DNQ Jan Lammers DNQ DNQ 14 DNQ DNQ DNQ 12 Ret Geoff Lees Ret DNQ 1981 N180B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 M A USW BRA ARG SMR BEL MON ESP FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN CPL 5 11th Marc Surer Ret 4F Ret 9 11 6 Ricardo Londoño DNP Eliseo Salazar 14 Ret DNQ NC Ret 6 Ret Ret NC 1982 N180B N181 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 P A RSA BRA USW SMR BEL MON DET CAN NED GBR FRA GER AUT SUI ITA CPL 0 NC Roberto Guerrero WD DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ Ret Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 8 Ret Ret NC DNS

* Includes five points scored by [Patrick Tambay](/source/Patrick_Tambay) in an Ensign N177 entered by [Theodore Racing](/source/Theodore_Racing) (see below).

### Results of other Ensign cars

([key](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:F1_driver_results_legend_5))

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Tyres Driver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 1977 Theodore Racing Hong Kong N177 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN Patrick Tambay Ret 6 Ret 5 Ret DNQ 5 Ret 1978 Mario Deliotti Racing N175 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 G ARG BRA RSA USW MON BEL ESP SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN Geoff Lees DNQ Sachs Racing N177 Harald Ertl 11 Ret DNPQ DNPQ

### Non-championship results

([key](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:F1_driver_results_legend_3))

Year Entrant Chassis Engine Driver 1 2 3 1974 Team Ensign N174 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 PRE ROC INT Rikky von Opel DNS Brian Redman 8 1975 Bewaking Team Ensign N174 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT SUI Roelof Wunderink 10 Ret N175 Chris Amon 9 1976 Team Ensign N174 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT Chris Amon 5 N176 Ret 1977 Team Ensign N177 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC Clay Regazzoni 13 1978 Tissot Ensign N177 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 INT Jacky Ickx Ret Lamberto Leoni DNA 1979 Smith & Jones N174 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC GNM DIN Robin Smith Ret 1980 Unipart Racing Team N180 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ESP Patrick Gaillard 6 ? Brian Henton DNA 1981 Ensign Racing N180B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA Marc Surer Ret

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_1-2) Small, Steve (1994). *The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who*. Guinness. p. 273. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0851127029](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0851127029).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Small272_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Small272_2-1) Small, Steve (1994). *The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who*. Guinness. p. 272. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0851127029](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0851127029).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Small, Steve (1994). *The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who*. Guinness. p. 344. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0851127029](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0851127029).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Small, Steve (1994). *The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who*. Guinness. p. 401. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0851127029](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0851127029).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-F1rejects_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-F1rejects_5-1) [Roberto Guerrero – Biography](http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/guerrero/biography.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071116224905/http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/guerrero/biography.html) 16 November 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

v t e Ensign Founder Mo Nunn Personnel Shahab Armed Dave Baldwin Ralph Bellamy Nigel Bennett Mark Williams Notable drivers Rikky von Opel Vern Schuppan Mike Wilds Roelof Wunderink Gijs van Lennep Chris Amon Patrick Nève Hans Binder Clay Regazzoni Danny Ongais Derek Daly Nelson Piquet Lamberto Leoni Bernard de Dryver Brett Lunger Patrick Gaillard Marc Surer Tiff Needell Jan Lammers Geoff Lees Eliseo Salazar Roberto Guerrero Formula One cars N173 N174 N175 N176 N177 N179 N180 N180B N181

v t e Formula One constructors 2026 season Alpine Aston Martin Audi Cadillac Ferrari (results) Haas McLaren (results) Mercedes (results) Racing Bulls Red Bull (results) Williams (results) Former AFM AGS Alfa Romeo (results) AlphaTauri Alta Amon Andrea Moda Apollon Arrows (results) Arzani-Volpini Aston-Butterworth ATS (Italy) ATS (Germany) BAR Behra-Porsche Bellasi Benetton (results) BMW (results) Boro Brabham (results) Brawn BRM (results) BRP Bugatti (results) Caterham Cisitalia Coloni Connaught Connew Cooper (results) Dallara De Tomaso Derrington-Francis Eagle Eifelland Emeryson EMW ENB Ensign ERA EuroBrun Ferguson Fittipaldi Fondmetal Footwork Force India (results) Force India (Racing Point) Forti (results) Frazer Nash Fry Gilby Gordini Greifzu Hesketh Hill Honda (results) HRT HWM Jaguar JBW Jordan (results) Kauhsen Klenk Kojima Kurtis Kraft Lancia Larrousse LDS LEC Leyton House Life Ligier Lola Lola (Haas) Lola (MasterCard) Lotus (1958–1994) (results) Lotus (2010–2011) Lotus (2012–2015) Lyncar Maki March (results) Martini Marussia Maserati (results) Matra MBM McGuire Merzario Midland Milano Minardi Modena MRT Onyx OSCA Osella Pacific Parnelli Penske (results) Porsche (results) Prost Protos Racing Point RAM Realpha Rebaque Renault (results) Reynard Rial Sauber (results) Scarab Scirocco Shadow Shannon Simtek Spirit Spyker Stebro Stewart Super Aguri Surtees SVA Talbot-Lago Tec-Mec Tecno Theodore Toro Rosso (results) Token Toleman Toyota Trojan Tyrrell (results) Vanwall Veritas Virgin Williams (FWRC) Wolf Zakspeed Proposed Bravo F1 Carlin DAMS Direxiv Dome FIRST Hitech GP Phoenix Prodrive Stefan US F1 Although World Championship races held in 1952 and 1953 were run to Formula Two regulations, constructors who only participated during this period are included herein to maintain Championship continuity. Constructors whose only participation in the World Championship was in the Indianapolis 500 races between 1950 and 1960 are not listed.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ensign Racing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensign_Racing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensign_Racing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.