Video: Derek Bell and the McLaren M9A reunited

©McLaren

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At 75 years young, former F1 driver and Le Mans legend Derek Bell is still happy to put himself behind the wheel of a racing car.

In this case, Bell was offered the opportunity to take a spin in the McLaren M9A which he drove in the 1969 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The car was McLaren's attempt to harness the power of Cosworth's 3-litre engine on a four-wheel drive platform.

A young and bold Derek Bell was signed on to drive the experimental car which would face off against four-wheel drive offerings from Lotus and Matra.

Unfortunately, the McLaren's performance fell well short of expectations, and while Derek led the 4WD group at the start of the race, his efforts only lasted five laps, when a rear suspension failure put him and the 4Wd concept out of their misery.

It was still an emotional reunion however for Bell and McLaren recently at Silverstone. Check out the video below.

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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.