After Alfa Romeo's official and final withdrawal from Formula 1 as a constructor, and the handover of sporting management to Giampaolo Pavanello’s Euroracing, the Arese-based company continued its involvement in the top-tier series solely as an engine supplier until the end of the turbo era. Alfa Romeo’s involvement was low-profile, supplying only the small Osella team, which used outdated Alfa materials until 1988 with no updates provided by the Milanese manufacturer. In 1986, however, Pavanello's Euroracing was once again engaged by Alfa Romeo to develop an experimental car, derived from the 185T chassis and named the 185V, designed to house the new Alfa Romeo 415T engine.
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| EURORACING 185V Alfa Romeo 415 Turbo |
This new Milanese engine was a turbocharged inline four-cylinder unit, intended to replace the now obsolete 890T and planned to power the Ligier JS29 for the 1987 season. The Euroracing 185V was tested in several sessions at the Balocco circuit near Milan, owned by Alfa Romeo. The drivers selected to test the car were Italian Giorgio Francia and Frenchman René Arnoux, with testing carried out between July and November 1986. Arnoux’s involvement stemmed from his contract with Ligier in 1986, and Guy Ligier himself "suggested" using the experienced René as a test driver, given his background with Renault during the early development of the French V6.
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| EURORACING 185V, Renè Arnoux Balocco circuit (Milan) |
The engine was then installed in the Ligier JS29 and tested by both Arnoux and Piercarlo Ghinzani, but around that time, Alfa Romeo was acquired by the Fiat Group, under which Ferrari already operated. Arnoux’s public criticism of the engine and the decisions of the new Turin-based ownership led to the project being abandoned before the 1987 season could even begin.
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| EURORACING 185V Alfa Romeo 415 Turbo |
Ligier, facing many difficulties, switched to the Megatron engine. Alfa Romeo continued its “low-profile” partnership with Osella, while Euroracing went on with its Formula 3 activities, achieving second place in the Italian championship with a Dallara-Alfa Romeo driven by Andrea Chiesa. The 185V ultimately remained a mere “laboratory car” that never saw a competitive race track.
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