A late season Le Mans win for F1's all-rounders

Civil unrest in France in 1968 had forced the organizers of the 36th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours to reschedule their event to the end of September.

The late season date meant cooler weather but also increased the amount of darkness the drivers would have to contend with in the endurance classic, but that was no deterrent for John Wyer's pair of aces, Lucien Bianchi and Pedro Rodriguez.

Figuring among motorsport's greatest all-rounders, the Belgian-Mexican duo steered their JW Automotive Gulf-Ford GT40 to an outright win on this day 54 years ago.

The triumph also delivered to Ford the manufacturer's title in the 1968 World Sportscar Championship.

Some eight months later, the same sturdy and reliable GT40 - chassis #1075 - would win again at Le Mans, with Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver at the wheel.

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.