In 1961, Phil Hill became the first American to win the Formula One World Drivers Championship, the ultimate competition in all of motorsports. For 17 years his record was unchallenged and today is shared with only one other American, Mario Andretti. Hill remains the only American born Formula One champion.
Hill won countless other races over a period spanning two decades. Other highlights in his illustrious career include winning the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans three times (before the Mulsanne chicane and with only two drivers sharing the car, not the three of today), the 12 hours of Sebring three times, the Argentine 1000 Km three times, the Grand Prix of Italy twice and the Belgian Grand Prix. He has the distinction of having won the first and last races of his driving career, the final victory being the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch in England in 1967. In a time of little or no safety equipment and when driver deaths in competition where commonplace, Hill remarkably was never seriously injured in a racing car.
Once an obsession, then a hobby, then a business, cars have a singular place in Hill's life. Once a partner in the world-renowned Hill & Vaughn restoration business, Hill now devotes his attention to his own collection of over a dozen antique automobiles. The crown jewel of the collection is a 1917 Pierce-Arrow, which has been in his family since new and has garnered prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance honors. Another great interest in his life has been his collection of antique automatic musical instruments.
Hill has worked as a television commentator for ABC's Wide World of Sports and continues as a contributing editor for Road & Track magazine, writing retrospective articles and conducting the tests for the hugely popular "World's Fastest Cars" feature Summary.
Born in Miami, Florida, Hill grew up in the same house in where he still lives today with wife, Alma. He has one son and two daughters.
In other pages in our 'Biography' section, we take a look at some highlights of Phil Hill's career.