Great Read: Phil Hill - The one that got away

How Hill lost 1959 Le Mans 24  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ View in browser View in browser ARTICLES MAGAZINE SHOP DATABASE SHOP ARCHIVE Phil Hill: The one that got away — 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours October 2002 | Adam Cooper Today marks 18 years since the death of Phil Hill, on August 28, 2008, aged 81. The American had won Le Mans in 1958 and, in 1959, was leading comfortably again for Ferrari. Easy money! But Hill would be broke before the day was out... For Phil Hill there is absolutely no doubt about the win that got away from him: Le Mans, 1959, when victory slipped from his grasp with a little over four hours remaining. “It was the one race in my career that I really remember should have been ours, and wasn’t,” he says. “That disappointment really pointed out the injustices of motor-racing.” The race should have provided a repeat victory for Phil and co-driver Olivier Gendebien, who had won the rain-hit 1958 event at the wheel of a works Ferrari 250TR. Although they were very different personalities, the American and Belgian forged a successful partnership over the years. READ MORE F1 Pablo Elizalde Why F1's 2027 silly season stopped being silly F1's 2027 grid was supposed to be shaken up by new rules - instead, almost nobody is moving READ MORE Podcast Motor Sport F1 Show Podcast: Will McLaren's secret weakness end its winning run? F1 Show with Mark Hughes What's the overlooked factor behind McLaren's Zandvoort dominance? And can it survive the trip to Monza? READ MORE Podcast Motor Sport F1 Show Podcast: Will McLaren's secret weakness end its winning run? F1 Show with Mark Hughes What's the overlooked factor behind McLaren's Zandvoort dominance? And can it survive the trip to Monza? READ MORE ADVERTISEMENT Some of the incredible offerings available at The Signature Store website Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/4, 1/43 Minichamps signed by Ayrton Senna BUY NOW Williams FW11, 1/18 MCG new release signed by Nigel Mansell BUY NOW Signed James Bond FDC signed by Dame Shirley Bassey BUY NOW McLaren 1/2 scale helmet 2019 signed by Carlos Sainz BUY NOW Full-size Ferrari F2007 steering wheel signed by Kimi Raikkonen BUY NOW Nigel Mansell signed 'taxi for Senna' limited photograph BUY NOW McLaren MP4/4, 1/43 Minichamps signed by Ayrton Senna BUY NOW Williams FW11, 1/18 MCG new release signed by Nigel Mansell BUY NOW Signed James Bond FDC signed by Dame Shirley Bassey BUY NOW McLaren 1/2 scale helmet 2019 signed by Carlos Sainz BUY NOW Update your content preferences UPDATE NOW Connect with us We now accept © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine, 18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine,  18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy