Onyx backer dies

The colourful money man behind the Onyx team’s F1 entry in 1989, JeanPierre Van Rossem, has died at the age of 73. The Belgian backed Onyx with his Moneytron investment company for its graduation to F1 from the F3000 ranks with Stefan Johansson and Bertrand Gachot. The Onyx, designed by Alan Jenkins, claimed a points finish in only its seventh race at Paul Ricard and then a podium at Estoril later in the season – both results with Johansson. Onyx boss Mike Earle described Van Rossem as “an eccentric, but an outand-out motorsport enthusiast at heart”.