The Wheel Maker's Blue Ferrari

Rial entered Formula One to promote its alloy wheels, and Andrea de Cesaris gave the German team its finest afternoon in Detroit.

Rial was a German maker of alloy wheels, bought by Günter Schmid, who had previously run the ATS team. Following the same idea as before, he entered Formula One to advertise the brand, setting up the team at the company's base in Fußgönheim. Gustav Brunner designed the Cosworth powered ARC1, nicknamed the Blue Ferrari for its likeness to his earlier Ferrari design.

Andrea de Cesaris drove in 1988 and finished fourth at the Detroit Grand Prix, and Christian Danner matched that result at the 1989 United States Grand Prix. Those were the team's best finishes from 20 Grands Prix started across its two seasons. Rial left Formula One after 1989, closed its racing division and returned to making wheels.

Drivers

• Christian Danner