Rial: Alloy wheels and Formula 1

Rial is a German producer of light alloy wheels and was a Formula One constructor in the 1988 and 1989 seasons. Founded in the 1970s, the company was bought by the mercurial Günter Schmidt, ex-owner of the ATS wheels company. Schmidt followed the same strategy as he had at ATS, advertising the Rial wheel brand by entering Formula 1 as a constructor. Not a bad idea.

Picture above: Andrea de Cesaris in his Rial ARC1, tries hard, too hard, during qualifying for the 1988 Monaco Grand Prix. He was 19th on the grid (from 30 entrants), but his engine broke on lap 28 in the race.

Rial participated in a total of 32 Formula One Grand Prix, the first year with one car, and the second with two. They scored six championship points, finishing a highest of ninth in the constructors’ championship in 1988. Best race results were a fourth place for the de Cesaris in Detroit in 1988, and another fourth place for Christian Danner in Canada in 1989 (picture below).

After leaving Formula One at the end of the 1989 season, the Rial Racing division was closed, and the company did not race again. Rial continues, to this day, to manufacture wheels and rims from its factory in Germany.