Rikky von Opel: How a Formula 1 driver became a monk

Frederick ‘Rikky’ von Opel – great-grandson of the company’s founder, Adam Opel – was born in New York but held a Liechtenstein passport, making him to this day the only Formula 1 driver from that small country.

Rikky von Opel 1973

Foto: Grand Prix Photo

He began his racing career under the pseudonym Antonio Bronco, but by the time he had proved his driving ability by winning the British Formula 3 Championship in 1972, Bronco had long since been retired and replaced by his real name.

In 1972, on his way to the title, von Opel beat none other than Tony Brise, who years later was tipped as a future Grand Prix winner and who, together with Graham Hill, lost his life in a plane crash in 1975.

Von Opel and his fortune backed the Ensign Formula 1 project led by former racing driver Morris (Mo) Nunn, who entered Grand Prix racing with him in 1973.

Topic of the week

Topic of the week: MotoGP’s new schedule proved highly controversial

In 2027, MotoGP will also enter the 850cc era with a new schedule. It was not so much the changes themselves as the way the decisions were reached that caused a stir. A prime example of: ‘Talking helps’.

Read More

TV Program

Live

Austin: 1. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

23.10.2026 - 19:25

Von Opel and Nunn put up a valiant fight with the Ensign MN01 (N173) model; the N174 (or MN02) was built for 1974, but following a disastrously poor practice session in Argentina, von Opel left the team abruptly.

Der Ensign-Rennwagen von 1973

Foto: Grand Prix Photo

Opinions on the Ensign N173 were divided. The rather simple design, with its low front end and cockpit surround that rose high up, gave a rather clunky impression. This was further emphasised by the tall, long air intake and the massive rear wing.

A dark ‘British Racing Green’ with yellow trim stripes, on the other hand, looked really smart. The nice thing was simply that the cars of the 1970s looked strikingly different. However, the team never managed to finish higher than 13th in England.

Nunn remained with Ensign in Formula 1 until 1982; he later sold his shares in the team to Teddy Yip and moved to the USA.

There, as a race engineer for Emerson Fittipaldi (Patrick Racing) as well as Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo Montoya (Chip Ganassi Racing), Nunn went on to win one CART title after another.

And what of Opel? In 1974, he replaced Richard Robarts (who had run out of money) in the Brabham works team. Von Opel finished ninth in both Sweden and the Netherlands (his best Formula 1 results); after failing to qualify in France, he hung up his helmet at the age of 26. His seat went to the talented Carlos Pace from Brazil.

Virtually nothing is known about von Opel’s later life. He lived in the USA for a while and is said to be living as a monk in Thailand today.