The Alfa Romeo 185T Formula One

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Alfa Romeo started the 1985 Formula One season with Giovanni Tonti as team manager. Carlo Chiti left the team half way through the 1984 season. Tonti’s biggest challenge was to make the car more fuel efficient. The 1985 car was designated the 185T and was again designed by Luigi Marmiroli. Cheever and Patrese were the drivers, just like in 1984.
Alfa-Models-Alfa-890-T-V8-engine

Engine	Alfa Romeo 890 T V8
Cylinders	90 V8
Displacement	1497 cc
Fuel	Magneti Marelli/Weber fuel injection + 2 Avio Turbo's
Max. power	680 hp @ 10.700 rpm
Max. torque	382 Nm @ 9.800 rpm

The first race in Brasil Cheever qualified for 14th position and Patrese 18th. During the race Patrese retired with a punctured tire after 20 laps and Cheever completed 42 laps after which he also had to retire due to engine problems.

The second race in Portugal saw Patrese taking the 13th place on the starting grid and Cheever in 14th position. Patrese spun in the 4th lap of the race and retired; Cheever again retired due to engine problems, this time after 36 laps.

San Marino was the third race of the season. At the Imola track Cheever qualified 12th and Patrese 18th. Patrese had to retire after just 4 laps with engine problems; Cheevers engine died in the 50th lap.

Cheever qualified surprisingly well at Monaco, the fourth race of the season. He started from 4th position. Patrese qualified 12th. Cheevers alternator caused him to retire after only ten laps. Patrese crashed with Nelson Piquet in the 16th lap.

The Alfa 185T first finished a race in Montreal. In the fifth race of the season Cheever qualified 11th and Patrese 13th. Patrese eventually finished in tenth position, Cheever crossed the finish line in 17th place.

In Detroit Cheever qualified 7th and Patrese 14th. Cheever had his best race sofar and finished in 9th position. Patrese retired with electrical problems after 19 laps.

After the promising results in the Noth American Grand Prix at Montreal and Detroit, the French GP at Le Castellet seemed to turn out as another disappointment. Patrese was only able to secure 16th position at the starting grid; Cheever qualified 17th. Eventhough Le Castellet is known to be an engine killer circuit with its long straight, both Alfa’s survived and finished 10th (Cheever) and 11th (Patrese).

For the Silverstone race the old Alfa 184T went back into service, with a few modifications it was designated the 184TB. Patrese managed to qualify for 14th place on the starting grid, while Cheever only qualified 22nd. Cheever blew his turbo after 17 laps, but Patrese finished in 9th place.

The 184TB was to be used for the rest of the season and at the Nürburgring Patrese qualified 9th and Cheever 18th. During the race, Patrese retired with a broken gearbox after 8 laps, while Cheever blew his turbo again after 45 laps.

At the Austian GP Patrese qualified 10th and Cheever 20th. Both cars didn’t finish the race.

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort saw both Cheever and Patrese retire in the first lap, both with turbo failures after qualifying 19th and 20th.

Patrese qualified 13th for the Italian GP at Monza, Cheever secured the 17th position at the starting grid. After 3 laps the race ended for Cheever due to engine failure. Patrese retired after 31 laps.

The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps saw Patrese qualifying 15th and Cheever 19th. After 26 laps in the race Cheever broke his gearbox and Patrese ended his race after 31 laps due to engine failure.

The second Grand Prix on British soil was the European GP at Brands Hatch. Patrese qualified 11th and Cheever 18th. Both cars managed to finish the race; Patrese took the 9th position and Cheever finished 11th.

In South Africa at the Kyalami track Patrese started from 12th position and Cheever from 14th place. Unfortunately both cars crashed in the first corner and did not finish the race.

The final race of the season took place in Adelaide, Australia. This time Cheever out-qualified Patrese, claiming 13th place. Patrese qualified 14th. Cheever however, blew up his engine in the 5th lap of the race. Patrese did little better; with a broken exhaustpipe he had to retire after 42 laps.