Cheever and the Osella adventure

Eddie Cheever, Osella FA1-Ford, is 23rd on the grid of the 1980 South African Grand Prix held at Kyalami. Next to him, one can spot the yellow ATS of Marc Surer. Both will retire in the race.

For the 1979 European F2 championship, Eddie Cheever left Ron Dennis’ Project Four team and joined Enzo Osella and his Osella team, taking three wins and fourth overall in their BMW-powered FA2.

In 1980 Osella moved up to Formula One, and naturally Eddie Cheever was chosen to pilot the team’s Cosworth-powered FA1. However, the car was unreliable and the American managed just one finish all year, a modest twelfth place at the team’s home race in Monza. That’s far from enough for Cheever who decides to accept Ken Tyrrells offer for the 1981 season.