Onyx (racing team)

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Onyx was a motor racing team and later Formula One constructor from Britain, founded by Mike Earle and Jo Chamberlain. Prior to entering Formula One, Onyx ran March Formula Two cars, taking over responsibility for the works F2 team towards the end of the formula's existence. They moved up to Formula 3000 before finding the funding to graduate to F1 with a Cosworth-powered car designed by Alan Jenkins. The team was initially funded by the colourful Jean-Pierre Van Rossem and his Moneytron product, but van Rossem's backing proved to be illusory.

The team participated in 26 Grands Prix, making a total of 52 entries. They achieved 1 podium with Stefan Johansson and scored 6 championship points.

After van Rossem's departure, Onyx was owned by the Middlebridge Group (also owners at that time of Brabham) and then sold to Swiss businessman and car manufacturer Peter Monteverdi, who renamed the team after himself. Monteverdi, who had last built racing cars in the early 1960s, decided that he could to better than the design team...

Their second season is regarded by many as a shambles, with no points and several organisational mistakes, including fitting a differential the wrong way round at one point, and even taking spares from Monteverdi's collection of sports cars. Earle later founded the Arena team which has raced Honda cars in the BTCC.

[edit] Complete Formula One Results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Chassis	Engine(s)	Tyres	Driver(s)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1989	Onyx ORE-1	Ford DFR V8	G		BRA	SMR	MON	MEX	USA	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	ESP	JPN	AUS	6	10th
				Stefan Johansson	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	Ret	Ret	DSQ	5	DNPQ	Ret	Ret	8	DNPQ	3	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ
				Bertrand Gachot	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	DNPQ	13	12	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret
				JJ Lehto													DNPQ	Ret	DNPQ	Ret
1990	Onyx ORE-1 Onyx ORE-1B	Ford DFR V8	G		USA	BRA	SMR	MON	CAN	MEX	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	ESP	JPN	AUS	0	NC
				Stefan Johansson	DNQ	DNQ
				Gregor Foitek			Ret	7	Ret	15	DNQ	DNQ	Ret	DNQ
				JJ Lehto	DNQ	DNQ	12	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNQ	DNQ	NC	DNQ