Motor racing legend and the only American-born Formula One world champion Phil Hill has died tonight in a California hospital due to complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 81 years old.

Phil Hill won the world championship driving for Ferrari in 1961, becoming the first American to do so, later to be followed only by Mario Andretti. But Hill remains to date the only native-born American to win the title.

It's a sad day," Carroll Shelby, a close friend of Hill's, told the LA Times. "Phil was an excellent race car driver with a unique feel for the car, and his real expertise was in long-distance racing."

Hill was born in Miami, Florida, on April 20th 1927. His family soon moved to Santa Monica, California, and the state would become his American home for most of his life.

He studied business administration in university, but never finished his degree, getting drawn into the world of motor racing initially as a mechanic.

In 1958, he made his debut with Ferrari in Formula One, also taking his first Le Mans win - also in a Ferrari.

Of his 48 Grand Prix starts in F1, Hill won three. He also had an illustrious career in endurance racing, having won the Le Mans 24 Hours also three times. He retired from active racing in 1967. Hill was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991.

After hanging up his helmet, Hill continued his involvement in the motor racing world through long-running work for Road & Track magazine, and as tour host with Grand Prix Tours. He continued going to Formula One races several times a year and was a regular and much loved face in the paddock.

He was a great story-teller, always a gentleman, and much admired and respected in the motor racing world. He is survived by his wife Alma, son Derek, daughters Vanessa and Jennifer, and four grandchildren.

He will be missed.

Source: Autosport.com

R.I.P Mr Hill

Ferrari pay tribute to Phil Hill

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo paid tribute to 1961 world champion Phil Hill, who died on Thursday, saying he will miss the American's passion and love for the Italian marque.

In a statement issued shortly after news broke of Hill's passing, di Montezemolo said: "I, as well as all employees of Ferrari, am extremely saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Hill, a man and a champion who gave so much to Ferrari and who has always greatly represented the company's values inside and outside the racing track.

"Phil raced and won many competitions both with prototype cars, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring, won three times each, as well as with F1 single seaters.

"With our car, Phil won the Formula One Championship title in 1961 as the first American-born to reach this result.

"Phil and I have always kept in touch throughout the years and I know I will miss his passion and love for Ferrari very much. My deepest sympathies are with his wife Alma and son Derek in this sad moment."

Hill won two of his three Grands Prix in Monza, while driving for Ferrari. He remained throughout his life much loved in Maranello, and was a regular guest of the team at the San Marino and the Italian Grands Prix throughout the years.

Ferrari and Formula One are likely to pay tribute to Hill next weekend, at Spa-Francorchamps, for the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

Source: Autosport.com

Another Sad Day for the World of Motor Sport...

At least This time, the person in question has had a Good Life and Lived to a Ripe Old Age...


R.I.P Phil Hill

R.I.P another that will be missed

:clap: :clap: :thumbs_up: