Phill Hill, born in Miami,Florida in 20 April 1927, is the only American-born driver to have won the formula one world championship. He begun racing at early age going to England in Jaguar team as a trainee in 1949, and then signed with the Ferrari team in 1956. He made his debut at 1958 with a Maserati. That same year he won the 24 hours of Le Man with his teammate Olivier Gendebien, driving for most of the night in rainy conditions. The two of them won the famous endurance race two more times.

In 1961 he won the formula one world championship, driving a Ferrari car. This year is also notable for him, as he became the first man ever to lap the Nordschleife at the Nurburgring under nine minutes.

After leaving Ferrari in 1962, he and Giancarlo Bagheti, started their new team ATS. Hill continued in formula one for a few more years until he switched to sports car racing with ford motor company. He has the distinction of having won his first and his last race. The final victory came in Brands Hatch in England in 1967. After that he retired. His son Derek raced in Formula 3000 in 2001, 2002 and 2003.