Ross Cheever

Ross Cheever followed his older brother Eddie in pursuit of Formula 1. Fast but wild in Formula Ford 1600, he jumped straight into British Formula 3 in 1984 and proved a revelation in Valour Racing’s Ralt RT3-Volkswagen. His three successive victories late in the year clinched fifth in the championship.

Installed as a pre-season favourite for 1985, Cheever’s was an erratic campaign – brilliant when winning twice but suffering too many accidents and "off" days. Without the funds to continue in Europe (he failed to qualify Eddie Jordan’s March 86B-Cosworth for the 1986 Birmingham Super Prix in a one-off Formula 3000 appearance), Cheever also raced in that year’s American Racing Series (now Indy Lights) − finishing third at Mid-Ohio on his debut.

Big in Japan

He then moved to Japan to rebuild his career and immediately won the 1987 Japanese F3 title with Funaki Racing’s Reynard 873-Toyota. He also made his debut in the country’s F3000 championship that year with Dome and finished as runner-up to Hitoshi Ogawa in 1989.

Cheever joined the Le Mans Company squad in 1991 and was second in the championship again that year. He remained with the team but also made his Champ Car debut in 1992 – starting four races in A.J.Foyt’s Lola-Chevrolet with 11th at Portland his best result. Cheever continued in Japanese F3000 until 1994 – winning a total of 10 races before retiring from the sport.

Life after racing

He later worked for his brother’s new Indycar team as a test driver and was entered for the following year’s Indianapolis 500 but he did not run. He was a driver coach at Mid-Ohio before working in real estate in California.