Promising American

Eddie Cheever, here at the wheel of his Project 4-entered Ralt RT1-BMW, claimed pole position and victory on the fast circuit of Rouen-les-Essarts in 1977. At the end of a solid season, the American finished second in the 1977 European F2 Championship, behind René Arnoux in a Martini.

The level of drivers was very high in 1977 in the Formula 2. The top 6 that year speaks volumes : Arnoux (champion), Cheever, Pironi, Patrese, Giacomelli, Rosberg. They will all soon shine, in the F1.

Though born in Phoenix, Arizona, Cheever lived in Rome, Italy as a child. He was introduced to motorsports at age eight when his father took him to a sports car race in Monza. Fast forward: by the end of 1977, after scoring wins in F2 at the Nürburgring and Rouen, he was considered one of the most promising drivers.

No surprise then that Enzo Ferrari considered Cheever for a drive in his team and invited him to test the Ferrari 312T2 at Fiorano (picture below). Finally, Gilles Villeneuve was chosen, and Cheever made his F1 debut with the modest Osella team.