(from autosport) 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.
That's awesome! I have always had so much respect for drivers like him and Lauda ever since I read about how they made their approach into F1. He was a good man and did a lot for the sport.
