A quiet man on the verge of F1 greatness

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On this day in 1977, Carlos Pace was killed in a light aircraft accident near Sao Paulo when the Brabham driver and his friend and fellow racer Marivaldo Fernandes crashed on their way back to the city from the latter's farm.

Pace had won just a single Grand Prix at the time of his tragic death, his home race at Interlagos in 1975.

But the poor statistics belie the talent of a man who was a big favourite at the time of Brabham team owner Bernie Ecclestone

"He was a beautiful guy," once remembered the former F1 supremo. "A really, really wonderful guy, and really underrated.

"He was serious as a racing driver, but I don't know whether he was quite serious enough, he wasn't Senna serious.

"He tried hard and he had a lot of talent, but he was a natural playboy as well. He was a Brazilian, and he loved life..."

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.