Belgian, Christian Vanhee, will challenge the Grand Prix Masters Series in a car that could qualify as the first Ron Dennis F1 car, the Rondel RJ02. Rondel Racing, the former Formula 2 outfit run by Dennis and Neil Trundle, sold the Ray Jessop–designed car to Tony Vlasspoulo and Ken Grob after failing to obtain sponsorship. Renaming the car, the “Token,” RJ02 made its Formula One debut at the nonchampionship, 1974 Daily Express International Trophy race, at Silverstone, in the hands of Welshman, Tom Pryce. While fellow Brit, James Hunt, took pole position in his Hesketh 308, Pryce languished in last place on the 32-car grid, some 26 seconds adrift. The car expired on lap 16 with gearbox trouble. His next, and last, outing was at the Belgian GP where he again failed to finish after colliding with Jody Scheckter. Following Pryce, David Purley stepped into the car but failed to qualify for the British GP. Its final driver, Ian Ashley, had slightly better luck in the car’s last two F1 outings at the German GP, finishing 14th, and at the Austrian GP, where, due to several pit stops, the car was running some 8 laps down at the checkered flag, but was unclassified. In 1975, the car transformed into the Safir RJ02; it raced at the nonchampionship Race of Champions, Brands Hatch, in the hands of Tony Trimmer, finishing 12th. Ironically, Tom Pryce won the race in a UOP Shadow DN5.
By Mike Jiggle
