A mercurial rise, and a fall off the grid

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Johnny Servoz-Gavin pulled off the amazing feat of leading his first real F1 race at one of the sport's most challenging venues: Monaco.

The French driver had actually sampled the Principality in an F2 car in 1967, but a year later he was called upon by Ken Tyrrell and sponsor Elf to replace an injured Jackie Stewart, and make a proper Grand Prix debut.

Johnny put his Matra MS10 on the front row alongside Graham Hill's Lotus, and burst into the lead when the flag dropped, pulling away from his rivals at a frantic pace. Perhaps a bit too frantic as a mishap at the chicane on the fourth lap damaged his drivershaft and sent him into retirement.

The highlight of his season came at the end of the summer, in his third race with Matra, when he finished second behind Denny Hulme at the Italian Grand Prix.

Hailed as France's next great champion, Servoz won the European Formula 2 championship for Matra in 1969 and drove the experimental four-wheel-drive Matra MS84 in three Grands Prix.

Strangely however his motivation appeared to subside, worried perhaps as he was by his vision after a tree branch struck his face while he was driving an off-road vehicle the previous winter.

Tyrrell once again entrusted a car - a March 701 - to Servoz for Monaco in 1970, but once again Johnny made a mess of it, hitting the treacherous chicane and failing the qualify.

Johnny Servoz-Gavin was never seen again behind the wheel of a racing car.

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.