A nail-biting finish in Jerez

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The Spanish Grand Prix held on this day in Jerez in 1986 concluded with one of the closest finishes in F1 history, with Ayrton Senna's Lotus beating Nigel Mansell's Williams by just 0.014s!

The last half of the race was a three-way nose-to-tail battle between Senna, Mansell and Alain Prost. The Brit lost ground when he pitted for fresh rubber but clawed his way back into the fight by making up 19 seconds in the final ten laps!

Mansell was snapping at the heels of Senna on the final lap, and pulled out of the Lotus' wake on the power run up to the finish line but coming up short by mere centimeters.

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.