A festive salute to Johnny 'two or four wheels'

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We wish a happy one to Johnny Cecotto who turns 70 today.

The Venezuelan is the last of a very select group of racers who competed at the highest level of motorsport on two and four wheels.

Cecotto rose to prominence as a teenage prodigy in 1975 when he became at 19 the youngest ever rider to win a world championship, the young talent defeating that year motorcycle legend Giacomo Agostini in the 350cc category.

In 1980, he made his four-wheel debut with Minardi in the European F2 Championship, graduating to Formula 1 in 1983 with Theodore Racing before moving on to Toleman a year later where he raced alongside rookie Ayrton Senna.

During his 24-month spell at the pinnacle of motorsport, he scored points just once, in his second race, the US Grand Prix West at Long Beach where he finished sixth, a performance that stood as the best result of a Venezuelan driver in F1 until Pastor Maldonado's triumph with Williams 29 years later in the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

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.