Phil Hill

Also in ‘55 the US-driver started as Oliver Gendebien’s co-driver in a Ferrari at the 1,000 km. It was like a flash: Hill brought home a second place in the race and gained the Commendatore’s confidence. Now it was just a small step for the ambitioned driver to Modena, ready to be part of Ferrari. In the following two years Hill, together with Peter Collins, took part in several prestigious competitions in the States. The winning team Hill-Gendebien came back in 1958 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans: A hard-earned second place in a race under dreadful weather conditions, followed by two more wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, which fed Hill’s passion for motorsports and competition. Sensitive and flexible, with an impeccable driving style and the Scuderia’s school behind him, the American driver was now ready for Formula One. In 1958 he didn’t have his Formula One debut at the French GP behind the wheel of a Ferrari, but with its biggest competitor Maserati.

In the first race, held at Monza, he immediately gained third place. While he constantly grew over the following GPs, he gained his first place on the podium in 1960. It was a good year for Hill, who was more aggressive and faster than ever. His biggest competitor was Wolfgang von Trips, an indifferent driver, who knew how to approach every single track. Exciting duels between the two rivals followed over the whole season. A record year for Phil Hill, who managed to be the first driver ever to drive a lap on the Nürburgring in less than nine minutes with the Scuderia’s 156 and gaining the Drivers’ World Title, thus becoming the only American-born driver to win this Championship.

In 1961 and ‘62 he won the race at Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the end of the year Hill left Ferrari for an uncertain future at the ATS team and retired in 1967 at the age of 39.