In 1976, Roelof Wunderink’s sponsorship paved the way for brothers Bo and Rody Hoogenboom to establish a Dutch Formula 1 team: Boro. Although the racing stable was short-lived, it experienced a lot. Today, we present part 1 of a special two-part series. “A blowout was just 60,000 guilders, gone in an instant!”
Text: Bas Leesberg
In the 1950s and 60s, Carel Godin de Beaufort represented the Netherlands in Formula 1. He registered his team under the name Ecurie Maarsbergen. Technically, this was the first Dutch Formula 1 team. However, the first Dutch racing stable to build its own Formula 1 car in its own factory was Boro F1 (a combination of the founders’ first names, Bob and Rody). The story of Boro encompasses the leap of faith taken by the Hoogenboom brothers, along with driver Roelof Wunderink.
The story of Boro begins three years before the racing team’s establishment, as Bob Hoogenboom explains. “In 1973, we came into contact with Roelof Wunderink. He asked if we would sponsor him. We had to get used to that idea. We had done some things in motorsport, but this was obviously escalating,” he says. Before they know it, their company HB Security Alarm Systems is emblazoned on Wunderink’s Ensign LNF3/71 Formula 3 car.
After a year in the French F3, Wunderink wants to move up to Formula 5000, comparable to today’s Formula 2. The Hoogenboom brothers agree. They lend the old F3 car with HB decals to Arie Luyendyk. The Hoogenbooms occasionally attend Luyendyk’s races, including in Monaco, where they lay the groundwork for the move to Formula 1.
In the Parking Garage
“My brother and I were in Monaco, looking at what we could do with that Formula 5000 car, and we ran into Morris Nunn,” Hoogenboom recounts. Morris Nunn, or Mo to his friends, had established his own team called Ensign a few years earlier. After a few years in the junior classes, Ensign registers for F1 races. Hoogenboom continues, “Nunn says, ‘I’ll show you the F1 car.'”
The trio heads to a parking garage where the Ensign N174 is parked among street cars. Hoogenboom explains why Nunn is showing them the car. “Rikky Von Opel was leaving, so Nunn had no sponsor.” Meanwhile, the brothers also have a problem with the Formula 5000 car, specifically the Morand engine. “They would blow up after just a few laps. Such a blowout was just 60,000 guilders, gone in an instant,” says Hoogenboom. According to the brothers, it would be cheaper to step up to the premier class than to continue investing in Formula 5000.The brothers therefore agree to Nunn’s plans and sign a contract, but with conditions. “We said: You’re going to build a new car. We’re paying, but all the materials, designs, and the car you build are our property.” In addition, the brothers demand that Wunderink will be the driver. Nunn agrees. From that moment on, the Hoogenbooms are in Formula 1, although the team is not yet called Boro but Team HB Security Ensign. The team is preparing for its first season under the new name and everything seems to be going smoothly.
Grand Prix of Spain 1975
The first race is the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix at the Montjuïc Circuit in the hills just outside Barcelona. For this race, Max Verstappen cannot use the promised new car. “Nunn was a nice man, but when he was out of sight, things were different. The car we were supposed to start with Roelof in just didn’t arrive. What did the man say? ‘I still have the old Formula 1 car, we’ll have to race with this one.”
During the training, the drivers refuse to go on the track. The guardrails around the racing asphalt are not properly secured. Everyone stays inside, until suddenly Wunderink goes on the track. “A Spanish man came to Rody and asked him if we wanted to drive. We did, and so we made that man, the organization, and the audience happy,” laughs Hoogenboom. This Spaniard would come in handy a year later. However, Wunderink’s F1 debut is not glorious. He starts in nineteenth place, but drops out early due to a broken gearbox. “What Roelof squeezed out of that old car was really good, but of course he couldn’t keep up with the other guys with new designs.”
Continued Training and a Tragic Accident
Behind the scenes, Wunderink continued to hone his driving skills, with support from HB Security. Hoogenboom recalls, “Roelof was in high spirits, he was unstoppable. We rented a competitive car for him for the Dutch Formula 5000 race. In preparation for that, Roelof trained with that car at Zandvoort.” However, during that session, disaster struck. “Roelof flew off the track at Scheivlak after ten laps. Due to the high speed, the left front tire came off the rim.”
Knocked Unconscious
Wunderink crashed through the wire mesh and hit a lot of posts along the way. “His helmet was almost completely destroyed, and it’s a miracle he came out alive,” Hoogenboom believes. The team owner got into the ambulance that took Wunderink to the hospital. Hoogenboom remembers it well. “I got into the ambulance with him while he was unconscious. I held his head all the way to the hospital in Haarlem. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived, because the ambulance had stiff suspension and was very bumpy. It was truly terrible.”
Continuing the Race
In the meantime, the brothers had to continue, as the race in Zandvoort was imminent. Gijs van Lennep took over Wunderink’s seat. The brothers were still not allowed to use the new car by Nunn, as it had not been sufficiently tested. With the old Ensign, Van Lennep achieved a tenth place. At that time, this position did not yet yield a World Championship point. The next race at Paul Ricard, Van Lennep finished fifteenth, and a race later at the Nürburgring, Van Lennep demonstrated his knowledge of the Nordschleife and finished sixth. This earned him the first World Championship point for HB Security Ensign.
Recovery and Return
When Wunderink recovered, he was not entirely race-fit according to Hoogenboom. “Roelof had taken a big hit and was not the same Wunderink afterwards.” Although he was back in time to get into the new car, Nunn vetoed it. “He refused to let Roelof race in that car,” says Hoogenboom. Nunn argued that someone should first get in who can show that the car is good. The team boss did not choose Wunderink or Van Lennep, but Chris Amon.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the forgotten F1 team of the Hoogenboom brothers tomorrow.
