Hockenheim's first and Rindt's last

Hockenheim hosted its first F1 Grand Prix on this day in 1970, a race marked by a fierce slipstream battle between Lotus' Jochen Rindt and Ferrari's Jacky Ickx.

For fifty laps, the dueling drivers swapped the leading position among themselves, although Ickx's Scuderia teammate Clay Regazzoni managed to steal two laps in the lead from his rivals as they regrouped behind.

In the end though, and for the fourth consecutive race, Rindt, running onboard Colin Chapman's innovative Cosworth-powered Lotus 72, had the last word.

Alas, it would be Rindt's last F1 win, the great Austrian losing his life two races later in qualifying at Monza.

But Rindt's points tally in the championship would nevertheless see him become the only driver to be posthumously awarded the Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

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.