A Gorilla born in Monza

Vittorio Brambilla - affectionately nicknamed the 'Gorilla of Monza' for his often overly aggressive style and rugged demeanor - was born on this day in 1937.

And anyone who hails from one of F1's most legendary venues is bound to be bitten sooner or later by the racing bug.

Brambilla kickstarted his career on two wheels before moving on in the late sixties to cars, prevailing in the junior ranks before stepping up to F1 with March in 1974.

The Italian proved quick and adept relative to his teammates, although a tendency to be accident-prone implied that he had little to show for his efforts.

However, he eventually enjoyed his day in the limelight when he held it all together to win the rain-drenched Austrian GP at Zeltweg in 1974, a triumph he celebrated by inadvertently spinning his March across the finish line while enthusiastically punching the air!

Brambilla wound down his career in F1 in 1980 with a pair of outings with the new works Alfa Romeo team. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 63.

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.