After an excellent 1977 season, Ensign’s growth was once again abruptly halted due to financial problems. Despite sponsorship from the Swiss watch brand Tissot, team owner Morris Nunn was forced to face the 1978 championship with the outdated Ensign N177 and had to once again rely on pay drivers.
 |
| ENSIGN N177, Jacky Ickx Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1978 |
The team started the season with American Danny Ongais and Italian Lamberto Leoni at the wheel, but both retired in the first two races. From the third round in South Africa onward, only one N177 was entered, driven by Leoni. However, the Italian driver’s results were disappointing, prompting Nunn to seek alternatives in drivers with personal sponsors who could cover the cost of their contracts.
 |
| ENSIGN N177, Jacky Ickx Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1978 |
Throughout the season, several drivers took turns behind the wheel of the single-seater, including Jacky Ickx, Bernard de Dryver, Derek Daly, Geoff Lees, Harald Hertl, Brett Lunger, and most notably Nelson Piquet, who made his Formula 1 debut with Ensign at the German Grand Prix.
 |
| ENSIGN N177, Derek Daly Brands Hatch, British GP 1978 |
The N177, designed by Dave Baldwin and Morris Nunn, was powered by the classic three-liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine, paired with a five-speed Hewland FG400 gearbox. It had a wheelbase of 2,565 mm and weighed 605 kg. However, the car was unable to take advantage of the growing ground effect due to its narrow and short sidepods, a design typical of early 1970s single-seaters.
 |
| ENSIGN N177, Nelson Piquet Hockenheimring, German GP 1978 |
The season proved to be a struggle, marked by failed qualifications, retirements, and back-of-the-grid finishes. The only noteworthy result came from Derek Daly, who, after an encouraging eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen, managed to score a point in the final race in Canada, benefiting from numerous retirements among his competitors. With these difficulties, Ensign continued with the N177 until mid-1979 but failed to achieve any further significant results.
Comments
Post a Comment