A governor, a senator but first and foremost a racer

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Rejoice, Argentine race fans! Carlos Reutemann celebrates his 79th birthday on this day.

When 'El Lole' broke on to the F1 scene in 1972 - clinching pole on his Grand Prix debut in Buenos Aires - he was surprisingly the first F1 driver to hail from Argentina since his legendary countryman, the great Juan Manuel Fangio had left his mark on the sport in the fifties.

Tremendously gifted, a superb stylist, Reutemann collected 12 GP wins during his ten active years in Formula 1 with Brabham, Ferrari and Williams, and finished runner-up in the championship in 1981, just a single point behind Nelson Piquet.

Once he retired from racing, Carlos embarked on a political career in his home country, becoming the governor of his native province of Santa Fe, and later a federal senator.

As a popular politician, Reutemann was considered by many to be a worthy candidate for President, but although he considered running in the 2011 Argentine general election, he ultimately declined to do so.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.