Alfa Romeo 185T

Engine

The car was powered by Alfa's own 890T, a 1.5 L turbocharged V8 engine which produced around 780 hp at 10,200 rpm.

According to Eddie Cheever in early 1985, the unloved 890T was due to be replaced by an 850 bhp, 4 cylinder turbo engine dubbed the Alfa Romeo 415T at some point during the season. However, development on that engine was put on hold when it was decided to withdraw the Alfa Romeo team from Formula One altogether at the end of 1985. The 415T would briefly be revived in a short lived and ill-fated association with the French Ligier team in 1987, but unfavourable comments about the engine by Ligier's lead driver René Arnoux saw parent company Fiat pull the plug on both the engine and the deal with Ligier before it ever got to race in Formula One.

Racing history

Driven by Patrese, the 185T was involved in arguably the most spectacular accident of the season. On lap 16 of the Monaco Grand Prix, Nelson Piquet in his Brabham-BMW was attempting to pass Patrese along the pit straight. Notoriously hard to pass, Patrese moved across on his former Brabham teammate and put the Brazilian into the guardrail. In a shower of sparks, flames and debris famously captured by the television cameras, both the Brabham and the Alfa were destroyed, though both drivers were able to walk away injury free.

It was at Monaco where Cheever achieved the best qualifying position for the 185T when he started from fourth on the grid with a time only 0.279 seconds slower than pole winner Ayrton Senna in his Lotus-Renault. Cheever had failed to qualify the 184T at Monaco in 1984. After the qualification, Cheever told reporters "We have a new wing here, which is much better than the old one, and the grip is good. Most of all though, we're understanding more and more about the Bosch Motronic, and throttle response is excellent. I think we can run with just about anyone on power as well. I mean, the car is good all round right now - if it can finish". However, it did not take too long for the American to change his tune about the 185T.

Aftermath

In an interview he gave in 2000, Patrese described the 185T as "The Worst Car I ever drove".

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

References

References

1. "Alfa Romeo 185T @ StatsF1". Statsf1.com.
2. "Alfa Romeo". gaffersports.com.
3. [https://www.statsf1.com/en/moteur-alfa-romeo.aspx Alfa Romeo engines @ statsf1]
4. Cooper, Adam. "Out with a whimper". Motor Sport Magazine.