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Former Williams driver Patrick Nève dead at 67

Williams Grand Prix's very first driver, Belgian Patrick Nève, has passed away in his home country at the age of 67 years-old.

A pure product of the British junior category scene in the 1970's, Nève made his Formula 1 debut in Belgium in 1976 with RAM Racing's privately entered Brabham BT44B.

That year, the Belgian also drove for Ensign in France. In 1977, Nève secured the budget to race for Williams in the first year of its incredibly successful partnership between Frank Williams and engineer Patrick Head.

While Head started work on the team's 1978 car, the Williams FW06 , it fielded Nève in a March 761 sponsored by Belgian brewery Belle-Vue.

What looked like a promising career at the outset for Nève did not pan out unfortunately, leaving the young man as one of Grand Prix racing's many journeymen.

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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.