The best driver never to win a Grand Prix

©Cahier Archive

Regardless of his winless record, Chris Amon must be considered as one of the greatest drivers of all time. But for bad luck, Chris matched many of the more universally credited greats. He was the moral victor of many races.

One of his greatest drives was the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa in 1970. Armed with the overrated March 701, Amon dueled it out with Pedro Rodriguez' BRM, hanging on to his powerful rival and finishing second, mere feet from the Mexican.

A few weeks earlier, Amon had walked away from a works McLaren drive at Indianapolis, unable to come to terms with the Speedway's dangerous concrete-lined environment.

Yet at Spa, shortly after, he was undaunted by the prospect of racing flat-out through the perilous Masta kink and around a track where trees, farms and cows were the first foreign objects to be encountered in the event of a mishap!

That was Chris. RIP.

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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.