Rial 
Active Years in Formula One: 1988-1989
Statistics
|
Attempted |
Started |
Finished |
Best |
Points |
|
48 |
20 |
9 |
4th |
6 |
Drivers:
Andrea de Cesaris
Christian Danner
Volker Weidler
Pierre-Henri Raphanel
Rial was one of the most interesting backmarker teams on the grid. The
team began in 1988, and was powered by the non-turbo Ford DFV V8.
Despite this power deficiency, the Gustav Brunner designed car was very
efficient, and the team looked to be a very promising newcomer. Andrea
de Cesaris managed a strong fourth place in Detroit in only the teams'
sixth race showing the potential of the car.
The following year, de Cesaris left and was replaced by Christian Danner.
The team expanded to two entries, but struggled to escape pre-qualifying.
When they did manage to make the race, Danner was reliable and even managed
a fourth place in the US Grand Prix (this time in Phoenix). This point
scoring result lifted the team out of pre-qualifying and should have been
a huge boost for the team's fortunes. Oddly, however, after an eighth
place finish in Canada, they did not make it into another race. In 1989,
Danner made it into three races, and the other car, driven by both Volker
Weidler and P. H. Raphanel, never qualified once. The fact that the team
managed to score points at all is quite amazing, but the reason why they
failed to make it into races with a car that was obviously capable of doing
well is somewhat of a mystery.
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