Greatest Racecar? Alex Caffi’s Dallara 189-Cosworth

I think Ron Dennis has made a great contribution to motor racing. I used to dream of driving for him in my younger days, but Mr. Dennis never called me. However, I did have a fan in Frank Williams, he liked my driving style and we had several conversations. Unfortunately, I couldn’t raise enough money to race with his team—I was under contract with Dallara and it was too expensive to buy me out. So much for my fantasies!

In reality my big chance to race in Formula One came with the Osella Squadra Corse. I was very nervous and excited about driving the car and didn’t sleep at all the night before. I was given the opportunity because the other Osella driver, Allen Berg, couldn’t raise enough money to do any more races for them. I met the team and shook the hand of Enzo Osella to make the agreement to race at the 1986 Italian GP. I had no experiences before in a Formula One car, no testing, nothing. When new drivers come to Grand Prix racing they usually have many laps just testing and practice behind them—I think I was a little crazy to just climb in the car. The first lap was unbelievably frightening, I was spinning everywhere. There was so much power in the car I couldn’t understand where and when I should use it. Can you imagine what was happening in the mind of this 21 year old rookie driver? My second lap wasn’t much better, I nearly pitted and gave up. It took just a split second for me to decide to continue and do my best. I started last on the grid, but was able to finish 11th in the race, the first Italian driver to finish. It was also one of Osella’s best results that season. Although exciting, the car wasn’t the best but the memory remains with me.