Ecurie Bonnier - Formula One

Formula One

Jo Bonnier began entering cars in Formula One under his own name in 1957, first with a Maserati 250F, without much success, recording only two non-points scoring finishes from his six World Championship entries in 1957 and 1958. However, with strong performances in other races Bonnier attracted the attention of more established teams, and over the next seven years principally drove for the works BRM and Porsche teams, and Rob Walker's highly-organised privateer outfit.

Bonnier returned to entering his own team in 1966, under the name Anglo-Suisse Racing to reflect his residency in Switzerland at the time. His principal mount that year was a Cooper-Maserati T81, painted in Swiss racing red and white, but he also fielded a Brabham at times. The year started promisingly at the season-opening non-Championship 1966 BRDC International Trophy at the Silverstone Circuit, with Bonnier qualifying the Cooper in sixth place and finishing a strong third, but the rest of the season brought little joy. Anglo-Suisse Racing's first Championship points would only come at the season-closing 1966 Mexican Grand Prix, from sixth place. During the year Anglo-Suisse also ran a Cooper-BRM T82, also painted red and white, for Swiss driver Jo Siffert in European Formula Two races.

Bonnier continued to enter the Cooper during 1967, but under the Joakim Bonnier Racing Team banner. The season was marginally more productive than the previous year, with Bonnier scoring Championship points in Germany and the US. In 1968 Bonnier started the season with the aging Cooper, but this was rapidly replaced by the unique, ex-works McLaren-BRM M5A for the majority of that year's races. At the final race of the season, the 1968 Mexican Grand Prix, Honda offered Bonnier the use of a spare RA301 when the McLaren's BRM engine failed during practice. It was with the Honda that Bonnier scored his eponymous team's best World Championship result: fifth.

At the end of 1968 Bonnier himself decided to step back from Formula One competition and concentrate on his sports car commitments. He continued to make occasional appearances, however. In 1969 the new Ecurie Bonnier name appeared alongside Team Lotus's co-entered Lotus 63 experimental four-wheel drive car at the 1969 British Grand Prix, and with a conventional Lotus 49B at the next race in Germany. Bonnier retired without scoring points on both occasions. In 1970 and 1971 Ecurie Bonnier raced with a McLaren M7C. Bonnier made tentative steps to act as an entrant for other drivers in 1971, entering young Austrian Helmut Marko for the 1971 German Grand Prix. However, he quit before the race because the team was so badly organised, leaving Bonnier to drive in his stead. Having failed to even qualify at some races, Bonnier decided to quit Formula One for good at the end of 1971.