Race and classic pictures

Lella Lombardi: the last woman to race in F1

The news today of the launch in 2019 of an all-female race series to help a woman reach F1 inevitably brings back the memory of the last female Grand Prix driver.

Lella Lombardi contested twelve F1 Grands Prix in 1975 and 1976, her claim to fame being a sixth-place finish achieved in a March at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix.

It was only her second F1 race, making her the only female driver to score an F1 world championship point.

Actually, she only earned half a point for the effort because the race's distance had been shortened following a tragic accident at Montjuich Park that year.

Still, Lella Lombardi deserves a mention in Formula 1's history books…

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.