Race and classic pictures

It's a 'Hypy' birthday to Bertrand Gachot!

F1i.com will once again be on its best behaviour today as its founder Bertrand Gachot reaches the big '60'!

Bertrand ran in 47 Grands Prix during his motorsport career, but his life in the fast lane also included an outstanding win for Mazda in the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours alongside teammates Johnny Herbert and Volker Weidler.

Once he moved away from racing, Gachot focused on his business interests which included taking over the Hype energy drink brand which he successfully built into a global player in the segment.

But racing remained close to his heart, with Hype involved in Formula 1 until 2018 as a prominent sponsor of Force India/Racing Point. And everyone knows that Team Silverstone - now Aston Martin - has its roots in Jordan Grand Prix for which Bertrand drove in 1991, racing the team's stunning Gary Anderson-designed 191, considered by many as one of F1's all-time best looking cars.

Happy Bert Day boss!

 

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.

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