One of the pioneers of modern
Formula 1 safety, Ongaro worked on the sidelines of motor racing until
1966 when he was taken on by John Surtees to look after his racing operations
in Slough. Initially this was a CanAm team in America and this won the
title with the Lola T70.
In 1967 and 1968 Surtees raced for
Honda in F1 and Ongaro played an important role in overseeing the operations
of the Japanese team. The company then decided to build cars for Formula
5000 and took over the LEDA operation and enjoyed some success.
There was also the short-lived Lola-Aston
Martin sports car programme. In the middle of 1969 Surtees relocated to
a new base at Edenbridge in Kent.
Derek Ongaro decided it was time
to move on and joined Lola in Huntingdon where he worked as general manager
for the next seven years.
In 1976 he set up himself up as a
motor racing consultant and was soon recruited by the RAC to help them
reorganise their technical regulations. This led to jobs as the series
director of the British Touring Car Championship and also overseeing the
running of the British Formula Ford series.
Derek Ongaro developed a close association
with RACMSA boss Basil Tye and as a result he became a FISA circuit inspector
in the late 1970s and in March 1980 was named official starter for all
Grand Grix races. He was a member of the first Formula 1 Commission in
1980 and continued to work in that role until the end of 1986 when he decided
to opt for a quieter life, being replaced by Roland Bruynseraede.
He died in December 1996 at the age
of 67.
