1982 marked the final year in Formula 1 for the small Ensign team, based in Burntwood, England. Morris Nunn's adventure in the top racing series, which began with partner Rikky von Opel in 1973 and included 133 race entries with a total of 19 points, highlighted by Surer's fourth place in the 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix,came to an end.
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| ENSIGN N181, Roberto Guerrero Brands Hatch, British GP 1982 |
Still lacking funds and a solid technical infrastructure, for the 1982 season Nunn once again relied on the same chassis that had been used for three years, only slightly updated by the sole engineer in the tiny British team, Nigel Bennett, and designated as the N181.
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| ENSIGN N181, Roberto Guerrero Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1982 |
Aesthetically, it featured softer lines compared to the 1981 car, but the V8 Ford-Cosworth DFV engine, the Hewland FGA 400 gearbox, double wishbone suspension, and the typical early '80s wing-car aerodynamic layout remained identical to the previous N180B. Only the MN16 chassis, already used in 1981, was slightly improved in terms of rigidity thanks to the use of carbon fiber.
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| ENSIGN N181, Roberto Guerrero Long Beach, USA West GP 1982 |
In fact, from this season, two separate shells were built: a lower tub made of aluminum honeycomb panels and an upper carbon shell, bolted together. This solution would be adopted the following year by the Brabham BT52, which went on to win the drivers' championship.
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| ENSIGN N181, Roberto Guerrero Österreichring, Austrian GP 1982 |
The N181 was entrusted to Colombian rookie driver Roberto Guerrero, who had a season full of disappointments. This led Nunn to give up and sell his production facility and the future “N183” project to Teddy Yip. 1982 was yet another year of missed qualifications, retirements, and just a single result: an eighth place at the German Grand Prix at the high-speed Hockenheim circuit.
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