Art by Dina Volskaya James Hunt
It was in Japan, although not in Suzuka, but in Fuji, where Hunt achieved his greatest triumph in Formula 1. He won the championship in 1976 in the most thrilling circumstances. On a tumultuous day in Fuji, the final race of a turbulent and controversial season, James finished third in the decisive race, enough to surpass his rival Niki Lauda and become the champion.
We catch a glimpse of a remarkable career in Formula 1, which would be considered politically incorrect by today’s standards. However, Hunt remains an idol and the epitome of the bold, carefree, and fearless race drivers of his time. The fact that he survived during a decade marked by so many fatalities on Grand Prix circuits is a miracle in itself. He is a true sports legend.
James Hunt, born on August 29, 1947, lived by the motto: “I always performed better as a driver when I was angry or at least aggressive.”
The tall Englishman discovered the thrilling world of motor racing during a casual visit with friends to Brands Hatch, a picturesque circuit located in Kent, England. A decade earlier, another young Englishman, Graham Hill, had been similarly captivated by the sight and sound of racing cars.
While Hill approached his racing methodically and made detailed notes to adjust his car, Hunt was aggressive and a troublemaker, both on and off the track.
Hunt grew up in Surrey, with his father being a successful broker. Breeding budgerigars was an early passion of the future world champion. According to his ex-girlfriend, Taormina Rieck, he truly came alive when he discovered car racing.
Hunt began his racing career in 1967 with a Mini and progressed from Formula Ford to Formula 3 in 1969. His bold and accident-prone style earned him the nickname “Hunt, the Shunter”.
In 1970, he emerged victorious in the tragic French Formula 3 race in Rouen, which claimed the lives of two local drivers, Jean-Luc Salomon and Denis Dayan.
The following year, Hunt triumphed in the Raymond Sommer Challenge Formula 3 race at Montlhery, finishing ahead of Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Patrick Depailler.
Hunt’s performance in a race held a year ago during the XLI Grand Prix des Frontières (1972) at the Chimay street circuit in Belgium caught the attention of ‘Bubbles’ Horsley, a driver from the Hesketh team. Hunt qualified in one of the top positions and finished fifth. ‘Bubbles’ decided to become the manager of the Hesketh team and recruited Hunt to drive for him.
They competed in Formula 2 races and immediately found success. Hunt secured third place in the standings at Salzburgring. However, after only participating in three Formula 2 races, the team decided to switch to Formula 1 as they were not achieving victories in the previous category, according to Hunt.
Hunt made his Formula 1 debut during the non-championship Race of Champions in 1973, where he finished third on the podium, following Denny Hulme and race winner Peter Gethin, while driving a F5000 car. Two months later, he had his first race in the Formula 1 Championship in Monaco.
Recalling Hunt and Hesketh’s arrival in the Formula 1 paddock, which involved celebrations with champagne and attractive women, Murray Walker described him as an “arrogant, conceited, drunken, and drug-using Henry”.
In October 1974, Hunt married model Suzie Miller. However, she left him in 1976 for Richard Burton. At the time, James explained that “the issue between Susie and I was that marriage didn’t fit my lifestyle.”
Hunt and Lauda, in an unlikely scenario in today’s F1 environment, were not only fierce rivals on the track, but also great friends.
While driving for Lord Hesketh, Hunt called him ‘the Good Lord’, and he secured his first victory by holding off the Austrian ace in the rain during the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, using a car designed by Dr. Harvey Postlethwaite.
Emerson Fittipaldi’s decision to join his brother’s (Wilson) Copersucar team, which he now considers the “worst mistake of my life”, opened the door for the party-loving English driver to join McLaren for the 1976 season.
The intense battle between Hunt and Lauda during the 1976 season was as thrilling and dramatic as the rivalries between Senna and Prost in 1988 and Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021.
There were moments of high drama at Brands Hatch and Jarama. During the British Grand Prix, the Ferraris of Clay Regazzoni and Niki Lauda collided with each other on the first lap. Hunt found himself caught up in the resulting chaos.
With the passionate local crowd demanding to see Hunt and the possibility of imminent track invasion, Hunt was given permission to restart the race. He relentlessly pursued Lauda lap after lap and eventually took the lead on the 45th lap, winning his home Grand Prix.
When asked about his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, Hunt replied: “I gained nine points, received a twenty thousand dollar prize, and experienced a lot of joy.”
Ferrari filed a complaint, resulting in Hunt’s disqualification from his home country victory two months later. This decision elevated Lauda to the position of winner. Hunt’s winning vehicle was disqualified for exceeding width limits, but was later reinstated as champion after an appeal. It was found that the protrusion on the new Goodyear tires was the cause of the disqualification.
The most intense moment of the season occurred at Nürburgring, when Lauda had an accident and was rescued from his burning car by Arturo Merzario and Brett Lunger.
Despite this incident, Lauda made an impressive recovery and staged a heroic comeback at Monza, where he finished fourth. Hunt, on the other hand, did not finish the race after spinning on the eleventh lap out of fifty-two.
When championship contenders arrived in Japan for the final race of the season, Lauda still held a three-point advantage over the McLaren driver.
Due to heavy rains around Mount Fujiyama, the start of the race was delayed for several hours. As Bernie Ecclestone would say, “the show must go on, we have commercial contracts.”
Mario Andretti started the race in pole position and clinched victory driving a Lotus, marking his first win since his maiden Formula 1 triumph in South Africa in 1971.
On the second lap of the race, Lauda entered the pits due to the dangerous track conditions, stating: “my life is worth more than a championship.” Hunt finished third and was pleasantly surprised when the team informed him that he was the new world champion.
In the following season, Hunt won three races and finished fifth overall. However, in 1978, his last season with McLaren, he failed to achieve any victories. His only podium finish came at Paul Ricard. Out of sixteen races, he retired from nine.
For the 1979 season, Hunt signed a contract to drive for Canadian oil tycoon Walter Wolf. After retiring from six out of the first seven races, he ended his Formula 1 career where it all began – in Monaco.
Hunt’s excessive drinking habits eventually caught up with him after his racing days. His second wife, American Sarah Lomax, mother of his two sons, Freddie and Tom, divorced him in 1989 after a tumultuous six-year marriage.
Lauda once recounted how Hunt found him in London and didn’t even have enough money to buy a cup of coffee.
The 1976 Formula 1 World Champion had resorted to parking his Mercedes on bricks to avoid paying road tax. He passed away from a massive heart attack on June 15, 1993, at the age of 45.
It was a tragic end to a glamorous career in Formula 1 and a lasting legacy in racing. Hunt competed in 92 Grand Prix races, standing on the F1 podium 23 times, with 10 victories and the 1976 F1 title, solidifying his name among the greatest figures in motorsport.
© 2024
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Manchester United. After 12 years, the Portuguese player returns to the club where he won numerous titles and became a legend. The news was received with great enthusiasm by United fans, who hope that Ronaldo will bring his talent and experience to help the team achieve success.
Ronaldo, 36 years old, signed a two-year contract with United, with the option to extend for another year. His signing was a surprise to many, as there were rumors that he could join Manchester City. However, the player chose to return to the club where he began his international career.
The news of Ronaldo’s return to United also had a significant impact on social media. Fans of the player and the club expressed their excitement and shared messages of support. Many believe that Ronaldo’s presence in the team will bring a new boost and elevate the team’s performance.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also excited about Ronaldo’s arrival. He praised the player’s skills and believes that his presence in the team will strengthen the team as a whole. Solskjaer hopes that Ronaldo can share his experience and leadership with the younger players, helping them develop their potential.
With Ronaldo’s return, Manchester United hopes to challenge the top teams in the Premier League and compete for the title. The signing of the Portuguese star is seen as a clear sign of ambition and determination on the part of the club. Fans are eager to see Ronaldo on the field again and believe that he could be the missing piece for United’s success.
In summary, Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United is exciting news for the club’s fans and for football in general. His signing brings hope and enthusiasm, and many believe he could be the key to United’s success. Now, we must wait to see the impact Ronaldo will have on the team and how he will help propel the club back to the top of English football.
